ALBANY, N.Y. – League leaders Binghamton (8-2-2, 2-0-1 AE) and Albany (5-3-3, 2-0-1 AE) battled evenly for 110 minutes before settling on a 0-0 draw in an America East test Thursday night from damp Casey Stadium.

In the process, BU extended its unbeaten streak to six games (4-0-2) and earned a key point in the standings. Both teams remain atop the America East with seven points with five regular season games remaining. Each of the last six games between the longtime rivals have been decided by one goal or less. 

The Bearcats nearly won it at the end of regulation when junior forward Dora Hayes ripped a distant shot that was reminiscent of her ESPN-worthy goal against Vermont on Sept. 22. The strike was headed for the top right corner before the Albany keeper dove to deflect it over the bar with just 1:41 left in the second half. 

One minute earlier, sophomore back Kayla MacKenzie dribbled into the box and to the endline before sending a hard cross near the six-yard box. The hosts, however, cleared away the scoring chance. 

The Great Danes' best opportunity occurred early in the second overtime period when a shot from the left side of the box caromed off the crossbar. 

Albany was credited with a 21-12 shots advantage.

"Tonight was a difficult match with two very hungry teams competing hard against one another," head coach Neel Bhattacharjee said. "We had good spurts when we played with purpose and rhythm in possession and had some strong opportunities. To be fair, Albany also had some strong play in good moments for them as well. At the end of the day a draw was a fair result and we can take a point on the road against a talented side. This just puts a little more emphasis on Sunday to try to get three points ... but it won't get any easier as we host a dangerous team in Stony Brook. We need to get some rest from a double overtime game and then get ready to protect our home turf." 

Sophomore keeper Haylee Poltorak made seven saves to notch her sixth shutout of the season. She charged well out of her box twice to thwart dangerous breakaway threats - the first just 3:15 into the half and the next in the 58th minute.  

Among BU's best chances in the first half was a header by junior back Erin Theiller off a corner kick that just whisked wide of the right post in the 24^th minute. Nine minutes later, junior midfielder Ivana Pjetri had a clean strike on a 28-yard shot but it was saved. Then with less than 10 seconds remaining in the half, freshman forward Maya Anand had a good chance on a pass from the left but her shot sailed over the bar.   

Poltorak made several point-blank saves in the first half and senior back Lauren Spinnato did her part by heading away a would-be tally off the goal line just 17:02 into the game.

Binghamton welcomes Stony Brook to the Bearcats Sports Complex at 1 p.m. on Sunday.