Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)

VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton women's soccer will play the first of two crucial games to end the regular season when the Bearcats (2-11-2, 1-4-1 America East) host UMBC (4-9-3, 2-2-2 AE) at 6 p.m. Thursday night at the Bearcats Sports Complex. 

Having earned a win and a tie in the team's previous two games, the Bearcats have kept alive their playoff hopes. Wins Thursday and Sunday (vs. Vermont) plus a bit of help could propel BU into the postseason for the 10th time in 12 years.

On Sunday, goals by Katherine Corcoran (26') and Leighann Bennett (87') gave BU a 2-0 win at Maine. Sophomore keeper Katie Hatziyianis made eight saves for her second shutout of the season and BU became the first team to shut out the Black Bears on their home field this season.  

The Retrievers, meanwhile, snapped a three-game winless streak with a strong 2-0 home win over New Hampshire on Sunday. On their Senior Day, the Retrievers used an early goal (9') and a late one (68') to offset a 16-5 shots discrepancy in favor of the visiting Wildcats.

Sophomore midfielder Gabby Boehmer leads the team with six goals and 13 points. Senior keeper Jen Nance has a 1.27 goals against average with three shutouts.

In the all-time series between the teams, BU owns a commanding 10-1-2 record. The teams have split the last two games, however, both in  double overtime. Binghamton won a dramatic 1-0 game in Baltimore last October on Tricia Hanley's goal. The win in the regular-season finale clinched a playoff spot for the '14 squad.