VESTAL, N.Y.  – Sophomore midfielder Andrew McDonnell scored in the 87th minute, lifting Binghamton (6-8-3, 3-4-0 AE) to a 1-0 win over Albany (9-6-1, 4-3-0 AE) in an America East men's soccer game on Wednesday evening at the Bearcats Sports Complex. The Bearcats will now carry the No. 6 seed into the conference tournament and will be at Hartford on Saturday for a 2 p.m. quarterfinal game.

After dropping their first three America East matches this year, Binghamton regrouped to go 3-1-0 down the stretch. As a result, the Bearcats return to the conference playoffs for the first time since 2016.

"Tonight was a tight game and we are delighted with the outcome," head coach Paul Marco said. "We have been playing very well this last month and like where we are going into the playoffs."

McDonnell, who now has two games this season, finished off a sequence that began a free kick taken by redshirt freshman Parker McKnight. His ball was deflected back toward midfield, where it was stopped by sophomore defender Ryan Pyszka. From there, Pyszka crossed the ball to McDonnell who headed it into the net from close range.

"Parker had the initial kick and I was playing far post," McDonnell said. "Pyszka and I made eye contact and I just wanted to get a head on it. I wasn't sure where the ball went at first but when I saw it was in the back of the net, I couldn't have been happier."

For most of the 90 minutes, there was little in the way of scoring chances. The Great Danes finished with a 4-2 edge in total shots and 2-1 advantage in shots on goal. The Bearcats, however, got a shared shutout from freshman goalkeepers Mats Roorda and P.J. Parker.

Binghamton concludes the home portion of its schedule with a 5-2-1 record. It is their best performance at the Bearcats Sports Complex since ending the 2009 campaign 6-1-1.

It was during that 2009 season that Binghamton last defeated Albany at home. Adam Whitehead's goal in the first sudden-death period lifted the Bearcats to the 2-1 victory.

McDonnell's two goals this season have both been game winners.

Binghamton and Hartford will square off in the America East Tournament for the fourth time. Most recently, the Hawks took a 2-1 overtime home decision in the 2014 semifinals. The year prior to that, they won 1-0 in overtime – also at Hartford -- in the quarterfinals. The Bearcats' win came in the 2003 semifinals as they won 1-0 on a penalty kick by Graham Munro at the old West Gym Field.

The winner of the Binghamton-Hartford match heads to No. 2 Vermont next Wednesday for a 4 p.m. semifinal game.