VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton women's soccer (6-2-3, 0-1 America East) finishes up a tough stretch of seven straight road games with a stern test Thursday against two-time reigning champion Albany. The Bearcats and Great Danes (3-7, 1-0 AE) will kick off at 7 p.m. at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium. 

The Bearcats opened America East play with a 2-1 loss at New Hampshire on Sunday. The two goals allowed followed a string of three straight shutouts (4 of 5) for BU, which has already equaled last season's win total. But with conference play underway, the Bearcats will turn their attention to gaining points in the standings and securing a top-six playoff position over the next three weeks. 

Redshirt junior forward Kayla Saager continues her record-setting points pace. Saager netted her eighth goal of the season in the UNH game and ranks sixth in the nation in points (21) and 11th in goals. She already has more points than the BU leader in each of the last 12 seasons and leads the America East in goals, assists and points.  

Albany followed up a tough non-conference slate with a 3-1 win over UMBC in its conference opener on Sunday in Baltimore. The Great Danes have won the last two conference crowns and were picked to finish second (behind Hartford) in this year's preseason poll. They return six starters from that championship team that went 6-1-1 in league play. 

Junior forward Mariah Williams leads the team with three goals and three assists. Two of her tallies came via penalty kicks. Freshman keeper Andrea Leitner (2.00 GAA) played the UMBC game and has appeared in seven of the team's 10 games. 

The teams share just one common non-conference opponent in 2017, with each team posting a win over Iona. Albany scored a 1-0 win two days before BU countered with a 2-0 win over the Gaels.  

Since both teams entered the America East, Binghamton leads the head-to-head series 9-4-2, though Albany has won the last two games by one goal margins, Last October in Vestal, the Great Danes scored on a first-half set piece and held on for a 1-0 win. 

After the Albany tilt, BU finally returns to the Bearcats Sports Complex to host Vermont on Sunday - 30 days after the team's most recent home game.