VESTAL, N.Y. - After earning four wins in its 10-game non-conference schedule, Binghamton women's soccer (4-4-2) cleans the slate and travels to Hartford for its America East opener Sunday. The Bearcats and two-time defending regular season champion Hawks (6-3) kick off at 2 p.m. at Al-Marzook Field.

Having already eclipsed last season's win total, Binghamton looks to shake off a pair of 1-0 losses last week. Wrapping up a three-game homestand, BU suffered narrow defeats to Bryant and Cornell. The week off will help an injury-plagued Bearcats squad which has been without nine roster players, including three starting midfielders.

Senior forward Leighann Bennett and sophomore forward Jocelyn Acor share the team lead with two goals and five points. Redshirt junior Michele Galvin has a goal and a team-best three assists and sophomore midfielder Patty Loonie has two goals, including a game-winner.

In goal, junior Katie Hatziyianis owns a 0.76 goals against average and an .860 save percentage. Hatziyianis has three shutouts.

Hartford is coming off a 2-1 road win at Bryant on Sunday. The Hawks rattled off four straight wins to open September and are averaging more than two goals a game. Hartford's squad features nine seniors who sparked the team to an 11-4-4 record last year. That team, which had 13 all-conference selections, advanced to the America East championship game after winning the regular season title.

Senior Jessica Jurg is the reigning America East Goalkeeper of the Year and she has a 1.11 goals against average in 2016. Up top, freshman midfielder Kaila Lozada leads the team with three goals and nine points. Sophomore linemate Ashley Claud has three goals and eight points. 

"We are excited to begin America East conference play and everyone starts out with an 0-0 record," head coach Neel Bhattacharjee said. "Playing at Hartford will be a challenge as they are perennially contenders for the conference and having another good year. But we will up for the test and have grown a lot during our non conference schedule. Conference play will competitive all fall and we expect this game in particular to be a challenge that our team will be up for."

Hartford leads the all-time series 7-6-1 on the strength of six consecutive victories - five of which have come by 1-0 scores. Last October, the Hawks scored the game winner in the 80th minute to escape Vestal with a 1-0 win. Hatziyianis made 10 saves in that game. The last Bearcats win was a 1-0 home victory back in 2009.