Box Score Box ScoreOLEAN, N.Y. - Binghamton women's soccer (4-5) allowed two goals in the game's opening 10 minutes, couldn't dig out of a three-goal deficit and suffered a 3-1 loss at St. Bonaventure Friday night at McGraw-Jennings Field.
The host Bonnies (4-4-1) drew a school-record 1,248 fans for its first-ever night game and jumped on BU right out of the gate, scoring just 2:47 into the contest. Another goal at the 9:31 mark made it 2-0 as the Bonnies scored on their first two shot attempts. The hosts made it 3-0 in the 26th minute before sophomore midfielder
Katie O'Neill responded 18 seconds later to put the Bearcats on the board. O'Neill let loose on a 40-yard shot that went through a maze of players and into the lower corner. It was her team-high third goal of the season.
But with goals on three of its first four shots, Bona maintained the 3-1 cushion at the break, despite being outshot by BU, 13-5. The teams played a scoreless final 45 minutes.
O'Neill had a good chance to pull the Bearcats to within one early in the second half, but her header hit the crossbar in the 51st minute. Earlier in the game, senior midfielder
Emily Nuss hit the bar in the 18th minute.
Binghamton wound up with a comfortable 18-7 advantage in shots and the Bearcats earned a season-high 10 corner kicks. The Bonnies put four shots on goal and scored on three of them.
Freshman keeper
Katie Hatziyianis and BU's back line kept the Bonnies off the board in the second half but the damage was done.
Bonnies goalkeeper Christina Sarokon made nine saves to keep BU at bay.
"We got off to a slow start," head coach
Sarah McClellan said. "The team hustled in the second half to try and get back in it and we had a few players step up and play well. We'll need a full-game effort from everyone on Sunday."
The Bearcats return home to host Cornell at 1 p.m. on Sunday in the team's final non-conference game before America East play begins.
