Vestal, N.Y. – The UMBC women's soccer team's remarkable 2026 season concluded on Sunday with a hard-fought 2-0 defeat to the top-seeded Binghamton Bearcats in the semifinals of the America East Women's Soccer Championships. The Retrievers battled until the final whistle, capping a campaign filled with resilience and memorable moments.
"While today's result is disappointing, I couldn't be prouder of this team and all we've accomplished together," said head coach
Rick Stainton. "Our seniors have raised the standard and left a lasting impact on this program, while our underclassmen have gained invaluable experience and a better understanding of what it will take to capture a championship in the near future. I'm incredibly grateful for the commitment and efforts of our players, staff, and everyone who has supported us throughout this journey. We have so much to be proud of and even more to build upon."
The Bearcats opened the scoring in the 21st minute, capitalizing on a penalty kick after a penalty inside the box. The sequence began with a long service from the right sideline, which freshman defender Ale Victoriano headed toward the near post. UMBC junior goalkeeper
Amara Codd reacted quickly to make a crucial save, but the play resulted in a penalty as the ball inadvertently struck a UMBC defender's arm. Senior defender Megan Baker calmly converted the penalty, sending her shot into the right corner to give Binghamton an early lead.
UMBC generated their first significant opportunity with just over 22 minutes left in the first half. Redshirt sophomore
Zoe Brossman delivered a perfectly weighted through ball from midfield to freshman forward
Brooke Clagett, who surged into the right side of the box. Clagett quickly sent a low cross toward the center, aiming for graduate student
Cece Price, but a Binghamton defender intervened to break up the play before Price could get a shot off.
Just four minutes later, sophomore defender
Cami Mink unleashed a powerful volley from the top left edge of the box, forcing Binghamton goalkeeper Rebecca Kessler (6 saves) into a sharp save.
The Retrievers' best chance to equalize came in the 51st minute. Junior defender
Gabby Larson made a surging run and whipped a cross into the heart of the box. The ball skidded dangerously in front of the goal, but a Binghamton defender reacted quickly, clearing it over the endline for a UMBC corner kick.
Binghamton doubled their lead in the 70
th minute. Sophia Garofalo lofted a high, arching pass from just inside midfield into the top of the UMBC box. As UMBC keeper
Amara Codd charged off her line to contest the ball, Taylor Gabel managed a deft touch to teammate Victoriano, who calmly placed the ball into an open net, sealing the Bearcats' 2-0 advantage.
Despite being outshot 16-12, the Dawgs fought valiantly in the closing minutes, generating multiple opportunities to cut into the deficit. Junior
Kristiana Kolega curled a beautiful cross to sophomore defender
Olivia Nardone near the penalty spot, but Nardone was unable to direct a shot on goal. Redshirt sophomore
Zoe Brossman came close with a powerful strike that soared just over the crossbar with under eight minutes remaining. In the final moments, senior forward
Payton Schenning found space inside the box after a clever pass from Clagett, but her shot drifted wide of the target.
Codd made six saves in the contest, and Mink and Schenning each took a team-high three shots.
UMBC finished the season 10-6-4, reaching double digits in wins for the first time since 2014 and the conference semifinals for the first time since then.
