Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)

VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton women's soccer draws up the curtain on its 2015 season tonight when the Bearcats host St. Bonaventure at 7 p.m. at the Sports Complex. The game begins a stretch of four straight home games to open the fall campaign.

Eighth-year head coach Sarah McClellan returns seven starters and 20 letterwinners from a 2014 squad that reached the America East quarterfinals, and in the process, played postseason for the ninth time in 11 years.

"This has been one of our best preseasons and we're excited to get started," McClellan said. "It's a young group (18 underclassmen) and there will be young mistakes, but we'll look to find a consistency and rhythm and get better each week."

Leading the way for the Bearcats is senior all-conference player Katherine Corcoran, who will drop back from forward to midfield in 2015. Corcoran notched six points last season and is a scoring threat from anywhere on the field. America East All-Rookie selection Jacque Rice (3 goals, 7 pts.) returns after a strong freshman season and will lineup alongside four-year veteran Stephani Church, who also tallied three goals in 2014. In back, junior Allison Mack and senior Alyssa Vallar anchor a back line that was stingy late last season. The Bearcats only surrendered three goals over their final five games and over the team's final 10 games, only two opponents scored more than a goal. Sophomore Katie Hatziyianis (0.96 GAA) takes over the starting role in goal after splitting time last year with Gaby Gold, who trades her playing jersey for a coach's whistle this fall. 

St. Bonaventure returns eight starters from a team that went 7-11-1, including a 2-6 mark in the tough Atlantic 10. Sophomore forward Lauren Hill led the team with five goals and 11 points in 2014. Senior keeper Christina Sarokon is a steady presence in goal, having started 17 games last season (1.36 GAA).

The Bonnies lead the all-time series 4-3. Last season in Olean, the Bearcats surrendered two goals in the opening 10 minutes and lost 3-1.