Vestal, N.Y. – The UMBC women's soccer team surrendered two late first-half goals and the host Binghamton Bearcats went on to a 3-1 victory, in an America East Conference contest on Sunday afternoon at a soggy Bearcats Soccer Stadium.
The Retrievers (3-8-1, 0-1-1 AE) nearly recovered from a 2-0 deficit for the second straight America East Conference contest as they came within a hair of getting the equalizer with just under 15 minutes remaining in the match.
The hosts opened the scoring with 2:34 remaining in the opening half as defender Brooke Herber collected a rebound and booted a left-footed winner into the lower left corner of the net. Midfielder Olivia McKnight was credited with the assist after firing the initial shot from the top of the box.
Binghamton (3-4-3, 2-0-0 AE) struck again with just fifty-six ticks left before intermission as forward Lauren Clark stuffed in a deflection off an initial shot by McNight, who garnered her second straight helper. UMBC starting junior goalkeeper
Abbey Cowles made a diving attempt to her left to stop the initial shot by McNight, however, Retrievers' junior defender
Lauren Reid inadvertently tapped the ball straight to Clark, who put the ball into the center of the open goal.
The Retrievers cut the deficit in half on an own goal in the 71
st minute. Junior back
Clara Looney sent a long cross from just inside the right sideline for junior forward
Izzy Binko, who was free inside the box. The ball deflected off a Bearcat defender and trickled into the center of the goal.
The tally sparked UMBC over the next few minutes and the Dawgs had two outstanding chances to net the equalizer. Looney continued to impact the game as she sent a gorgeous cross for graduate student midfielder
Lola Negrete in the center of the box. Negrete caught up to the pass and put a well-struck volley on target, however, Binghamton goalkeeper Kaitlyn Williams (five saves) managed to punch the ball over the center of the crossbar for a corner kick.
Negrete took the corner and put the ball in the center of the box for senior forward
Meghan McKye but her header was turned aside by Williams, who was up for the challenge.
The hosts put the game away in the 81
st minute after a through ball was sent into the box by Victoria McNight. Paige Luke caught up to the pass and was able to tap it past the charging
Sara Gavagan, who had replaced Cowles in goal to open the final half.
The Bearcats, the preseason conference favorites, outshot the Retrievers by a 17-7 margin in the contest.
UMBC will host NJIT on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
