Women's Soccer 10/2/2024 6:40:00 PM

Women's Soccer Looks to Remain Unbeaten In America East Play; Host Binghamton on Thursday Night

UMBC improved to 1-0-1 in the America East Conference after edging the UMass Lowell River Hawks 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at Cushing Field.
Senior Izzy Binko created havoc all afternoon as the speedy striker assisted on graduate student Natasha Munro's opening tally of the day and then added the game-winning marker early in the second half, her second of the season.
Senior Abbey Cowles played a terrific game in goal and made eight saves in 90 minutes of action. Several of her stops were game-saving plays, including a reaction stop in the 88th minute from point-blank range. She was named the America East Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.
The hosts outshot the Retrievers by a 22-8 margin in the contest and had UMBC on their heels in the final moments of the contest but were unable to score the equalizer.
The Retrievers scored 5:37 into the second half for what turned out to be the game-winner. Sophomore forward Payton Schenning started the play from the 40-yard line as she found junior midfielder Misa Kasparcova at the midfield line. Kasparcova eluded a defender and located Binko, who was sprinting free down the left side. After collecting the pass, Binko carried the ball 30 yards towards the center of the box and forced River Hawks' keeper Taylor Burgess to vacate her line. Binko then slid a low shot just inside the right post for her second tally of the campaign.
Cowles was at her best with 2:33 remaining after Calliste Brookshire served a dangerous free kick into the box that landed just yards from the goal mouth. Hilary Jaen got her foot on the ball, but Cowles made a diving play on the line to save the day.
UMBC scored just five minutes into the contest to grab a 1-0 advantage. Graduate student forward Meghan McKye hit Binko with a great pass from her 40-yard line, and Binko collected the ball on the left flank just beyond midfield. Binko sprinted down the sideline all the way into the box and delivered a gorgeous cross to Munro, who was wide open in the center at the 5-yard line. Munro tapped in the feed with her right foot into the top center of the net as Burgess had no chance on the play.
UMass Lowell (1-7-2, 0-1-0) responded in the 20th minute, just moments after a free-kick opportunity. Brookshire sent a cross into the box, and Jaen came sliding in to tap home the equalizer from five yards out.

About Binghamton

Binghamton has followed a six-game pattern of loss-loss-win-win-loss-loss, giving optimism for a positive result Thursday night.
The Bearcats have dropped games to the other two top-three preseason picks (Maine, UNH) to open league play. Ahead are six games to climb the standings and put the team in position for a familiar postseason berth.
Senior forward Hannah Mimas leads the team with five goals (3rd in AE), four assists (T-2nd) and 14 points (2nd). Sophomore midfielder Anna Buckwalter has three goals and two assists. Senior keeper Kaitlyn Williams owns a 1.17 goals against average (3rd in AE).

Inside The Series

The Bearcats have beaten UMBC 17 of 21 times, including the last seven head-to-head. In the last three matchups, Binghamton has outscored UMBC by a combined 12-2 margin, including a 3-1 home win last September.

Up Next

The Dawgs will travel to Vermont on Sunday afternoon.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Izzy Binko: M; 5' 3"; Junior

#0 Abbey Cowles: GK; 5' 10"; Junior

#9 Meghan McKye: F; 5' 8"; Senior

#2 Natasha Munro: F; 5' 7"; Graduate Student

#14 Payton Schenning: F; 5' 7"; Freshman

#31 Misa Kasparcova: M; 5' 3"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#5 Izzy Binko
: 5' 3"; Junior
: M

#0 Abbey Cowles
: 5' 10"; Junior
: GK

#9 Meghan McKye
: 5' 8"; Senior
: F

#2 Natasha Munro
: 5' 7"; Graduate Student
: F

#14 Payton Schenning
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: F

#31 Misa Kasparcova
: 5' 3"; Sophomore
: M