Box Score Box Score
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)

VESTAL, N.Y. - Junior forward Stephanie Church scored just 2:16 into the contest but visiting Manhattan (2-1) notched the game's final two goals and edged Binghamton women's soccer 2-1 Friday night at the Bearcats Sports Complex.

The Bearcats (0-3) got the quick start with Church's first goal of the season but the Jaspers tied it in the ninth minute and then scored the game-winner 4:30 into the second half.

Binghamton held a 14-9 shots advantage but couldn't break through for the equalizer.

"The team put in spurts of really good efforts but we just didn't have every piece there tonight," head coach Sarah McClellan said. "We had some chances and outshot our opponent, which is something you need to do in order to win. But we weren't connecting on final passes and shots. I think we're getting closer but our organization and communication are still a work in progress. As long as we can learn from this game and tighten up a few things, we'll be ready for Iona on Sunday."

After back-to-back shutout losses to start the season, BU produced its first goal of 2014 when junior forward Katherine Corcoran chipped a ball over the Manhattan defense to Church, who was breaking in on the right side. With the keeper coming out to cut down the angle, Church brought down the pass and slotted a shot into the far corner from 10 yards out. 

Manhattan tied the game 6:18 later when leading scorer Aislinn McIvenny broke past the BU back line and received a perfect through ball from senior Kaelyn Angelo on the right. McIvenny dribbled closer before eluding keeper Gaby Gold with a shot into the far side netting from 12 yards away.

Church nearly had a tiebreaking goal midway through the first half. With 20:35 left in the opening period, freshman back Hannah Shankman tracked down a ball on the left wing, cut back and delivered a cross that bounced inside the box.

Church beat her defender to the ball and had a point-blank header off the bounce, but Manhattan keeper Kristen Skonieczny made the save. 

Four minutes later, Gold made a nice save to keep the game even. She came out and dove to her left to smother a shot attempt from 16 yards away.

The Bearcats had two more good chances in the first half, including a volley from sophomore midfielder Katie O'Neill that was saved, and a dangerous cross from freshman forward Jocelyn Acor, that the keeper punched away. 

Tied 1-1 at half, the teams barely had a sweat going in the second half when the Jaspers scored a quirky goal that stood up as the winner. Senior back Shannon Garrity crossed a ball from the right side that appeared to skim off the head of a BU defender. The re-routed ball sailed past second-half keeper Katie Hatziyianis and banked in off the upper body of junior forward Sam Washuk, who was driving toward the net alongside another Bearcats defender.
Binghamton faces another MAAC member on Sunday when Iona arrives in town for a 1 p.m. kickoff.

NOTES
Binghamton played the game without half of its starting back line as senior Connie Gormley and sophomore Allison Mack were nursing injuries.