SYRACUSE, N.Y.—The Binghamton women's lacrosse team (0-1) hung tough with the number three team in the country, losing 9-6 to Syracuse University (2-0) today.

Down 3-0 in the first, Olivia Batista got the Bearcats on the board with her first collegiate goal. Five minutes later Brianne Arthur made it 3-2 with her first goal of the season. After an Orange goal, Miriam Ghabarou caught a pass from Sophia Racciatti and sent it home to make it 4-3. Cuse would add another goal to take a 5-3 lead into the half.

The Bearcats came out hot in the second half, scoring the first two goals to knot the score at five goals apiece. With 23:58 left, Racciatti scored off a pass from Rebecca Golderman to pull the Bearcats within one. Less than a minute later, Callon Williams scored via free position shot to tie the game. The Orange broke the game open with a 4-0 run before a Tiffany Ryan goal closed the scoring for the game.

Erin McNulty made 10 saves in cage for the Bearcats, and Allie Rodgers had four ground balls and four caused turnovers to help hold the preseason number three team to single digit goals.

Binghamton returns to action on February 20 for their home opener, as they host Niagara for a 1 p.m. game at the Bearcats Sports Complex.