BALTIMORE, Md. – Host UMBC (6-9-1, 2-4-1 AE) converted a pair of penalty kicks en route to a 3-1 victory over Binghamton (6-9-2, 2-5-0 AE) in an America East women's soccer game on Thursday night at Retriever Park. The loss snapped the Bearcats' two-game winning streak and puts them in a must-win situation at Vermont on Sunday in the regular-season finale to clinch a berth in the conference tournament.
 
After a quiet first half, which saw the Retrievers take a 1-0 lead on a goal by Alexa Quaranta in the 25th minute, the second half featured three UMBC penalty kick attempts.  Junior goalkeeper Katie Hatziyianis stopped the first attempt in the 61st minute but Gabby Boehmer made her shot in the 71st minute, padding the Retrievers' lead to 2-0.
 
Senior forward Leighann Bennett trimmed the deficit to 2-1 in the 81st minute. She collected a deflected shot and fired the ball into an empty net. For Bennett, it was her team-high third goal of the year.
 
It was UMBC's third penalty kick attempt on the night, however, that sealed the result. Preslie Quaranta made the shot in the 88th minute.
 
Binghamton finished with a 15-13 shot advantage for the game but counting the penalty kick attempts, UMBC had a 10-5 edge in shots on goal. Hatziyianis, who has now made a penalty kick save in two straight games, stopped seven shots by the Retrievers.

"It was a very difficult match in a tough environment," head coach Neel Bhattacharjee said. "In the end, we played with quality at times and our pressure was solid in the second half and it led to opportunities for us. We have to be better at finishing the chances we create."
 
With one game left to go in the regular-season, the Bearcats sit in seventh place in the conference with six points. UMBC now is in the sixth and final playoff position with seven points. Maine (3-5-0) sits in fifth place with nine points but is done with conference play. Vermont is eighth with four points (1-4-2).  UMass Lowell (2-5-0, tied with Binghamton) is not eligible for the conference tournament.
 
With a victory at Vermont on Sunday afternoon, Binghamton would earn a playoff spot regardless of how UMBC does at Albany (5-1-1, third place in the AE). That is because the Bearcats would have nine points (3-5-0) and own the tiebreaker against Maine.

"We have to regroup now for our travel north to face a talented Vermont team," Bhattacharjee said. "We have had good growth throughout this year and want to end the regular season on a high note."
 
The highest spot the Bearcats can take into the America East Tournament is No. 5.
 
Kickoff in Burlington is set for 1 p.m.