OLEAN, N.Y. - Senior Kayla Saager and junior Ryan Reilly each contributed a goal and an assist but Binghamton women's soccer (0-0-1) surrendered three second half goals and had to settle for a 3-3 double overtime tie with host St. Bonaventure (0-0-1) in the season opener for both teams Friday night at the Marra Athletics Complex.

The Bearcats built a 3-0 lead before the Bonnies tallied the game's final three goals, including the tying goal on a penalty kick with just 1:04 left in regulation. Binghamton outshot St. Bona 19-10 and held a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks. The Bearcats allowed just one shot in the two 10-minute overtime periods but couldn't net the game-winner.

"Tonight we showed for 55 minutes the class this team can play with and I was very pleased with our possession and attack," head coach Neel Bhattacharjee said. "Unfortunately regulation is 90 minutes and we didn't play with the same relentless mentality and we became complacent after our third goal and then let a 'W' slip away. Credit to St. Bonaventure and their never-say-die attitude. But we need to be significantly better at our game management. We are still a team that is gelling as a unit and will learn from this to be better later this fall. We did have some very good individual performances and will look for that again Sunday against Marist." 

Saager, the reigning America East Striker of the Year, wasted no time cranking up her offense. Just 11:09 into the contest, she ripped a shot to the top netting from 19 yards out to stake BU to a quick 1-0 lead. In the 37th minute, Saager fed a thru ball to Reilly, who deposited her shot in the left corner for a 2-0 cushion.

The Bearcats held a 9-1 shots margin in the first half and then made it 3-0 just 8:04 into the second half when sophomore forward Genna Michitti knocked in a cross from Reilly. 

But St. Bonaventure scored the game's final three goals in a startling second half rally. The hosts got on the board in the 60th minute, made it 3-2 with a tally in the 78th minute and then were awarded a penalty kick with just 1:04 left in regulation. The ensuing goal from the spot tied the game at 3-3. 

Freshman keeper Haylee Poltorak and sophomore Mackenzie Hanna split the game in goal. Poltorak made one save in a clean first half before Hanna played the final 65 minutes. 

Binghamton returns home to host Marist at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Bearcats Sports Complex.

NOTES
The Bearcats improved to 2-0-2 in their last four season-openers - all against the Bonnies. Binghamton improved to 5-4-3 all-time against St. Bonaventure ... you have to go all the way back to 2001 to find the last time BU scored three goals and didn't win the game. In the final game of BU's first Division I season, the Bearcats lost to Georgetown 4-3. 


Stay connected with Binghamton women's soccer through social media. Follow on Twitter and Instagram For postgame interviews, videos and photos, check-in with the Bearcats on Facebook.