Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)

VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton women's soccer will renew one of its oldest rivalries when the Bearcats (1-8-1, 0-1 AE) travel to Albany to face the Great Danes (5-5-1, 0-0-1 AE) in an America East contest at 7 p.m. Thursday at Bob Ford Field. The game will finish off a seven-game road stretch for Binghamton.

The head-to-head matchup with Albany dates back to 1986 - Binghamton's second season as a varsity program when both teams competed in the Division III State University of New York Athletic Conference. The Bearcats hold a 18-3-3 advantage, including a 9-3-2 margin at the Division I level. Albany, however, has won two of the last four meetings - both 1-0 results. Last season in Vestal, the teams played to a scoreless draw. 

Binghamton is looking for its first conference points and also looking to shake the memory of Sunday's 6-0 loss at reigning conference champion New Hampshire. The Wildcats scored three goals in each half and pinned the worst loss on BU in its 14-year history in the America East.

Senior forward Stephani Church and freshman forward Julianne Johnston have two goals apiece to pace the offense.

Sophomore keeper Katie Hatziyianis is averaging more than six saves a game, including a career-high 11 in a 1-0 loss at FDU on Sept. 18.

After Thursday's game, BU will play four of its remaining six regular season games at home. With three points allotted to each conference victory, head coach Sarah McClellan's squad has plenty of time to notch enough points to advance to the postseason (top 6 finish). Binghamton has extended its regular season nine times in the last 11 years.

Albany is coming off a 1-1 overtime draw at UMBC in its conference opener on Sunday. The Great Danes held a commanding 22-8 shots cushion but the teams traded late goals in the stalemate. Before that, Albany beat Rhode Island 1-0 last Thursday. The team also owns wins over Davidson (2-1), Holy Cross (5-0), Marist (2-0) and Quinnipiac (4-1). The Great Danes have tallied 19 goals this season, but just two in their last three combined games. Last year's America East Rookie of the Year, Vivian Vega, leads the team with five goals and 11 points. Senior keeper Alana Brennan owns a 1.22 goals against average and is already the program's all-time wins leader. 

The Great Danes returned 10 starters and 16 letterwinners from a 7-9-5 team that placed fourth in the league last fall. They lost to Hartford (1-0) in the 2014 quarterfinals.

Binghamton will host Hartford at 1 p.m. on Sunday.