VESTAL, N.Y. - Women's soccer opens its 2018 season on the road Friday with a 7 p.m. game at St. Bonaventure. After a two-plus week preseason, head coach
Neel Bhattacharjee's squad begins its 18-game slate against the Atlantic 10 member Bonnies at the Marra Athletics Complex in Olean. Two days later, BU hosts Marist in the team's home opener on Sunday.
The Bearcats return nine starters and 19 letterwinners from last year's 11-4-4 America East regular season co-championship team, though several returning starters may not be in Friday's lineup due to injury. Â
Bhattacharjee shared his team's focus during preseason training. "We've focused on our defensive shape ... how we're shifting to the ball and reacting to different scenarios. We want to move with urgency when we lose the ball. That's been a big key during this preseason ... and also our transition when we win the ball and go from defensive mode to attack with wider shape."
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The Bonnies have 17 letterwinners back from a 2-14-3 team that went 2-6-2 in the Atlantic 10.Â
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Binghamton leads the all-time series, which began in 2000, 5-4-2. The Bearcats are unbeaten (2-0-1) in the last three meetings, including a 2-1 home win in last season's opener. The last Bona win was a 3-1 triumph in Olean back in 2014 - the last of three straight Bonnies wins in the series. Last season, BU surrendered a Bona goal less than two minutes into the game but rallied for a 2-1 win.Â
Ryan Reilly scored the game-winner in the 61st minute.Â
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