VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton (1-0) tallied twice in a 34-second span midway through the first half and controlled play throughout in a 2-0 win over visiting St. Bonaventure (0-1) in the season opener for both teams Thursday night at the Bearcats Sports Complex.

Freshman midfielder Olivia McKnight notched a goal and an assist and BU outshot its Atlantic 10 opponent 20-4. The Bonnies hampered their chances at a comeback with a red-card in the 25th minute and they played the final 65 minutes one player down.

After sluggish play early in the game by both teams, BU struck in the 18th minute (17:31). McKnight drove down the right side and sent a low, hard shot on goal. St. Bona keeper Lauren Malcolm dove to her right to make the save but the rebound spilled out to sophomore forward Stefania Piantadosi, who tapped it in from close range for her first collegiate goal.

The Bearcats applied pressure immediately after the ensuing kickoff and after junior forward Dora Hayes pushed forward in the middle, she fed McKnight with a through ball. McKnight tucked it under a rushing Malcolm and into the open net at the 18:05 mark. 

"I'm really pleased with the result," head coach Neel Bhattacharjee said. "It took about 5-10 minutes for us to find our rhythm, but once it came to us, it was terrific to get two goals in a short span and after that it felt like we were pretty much in control. Overall we are pleased with the effort and performance. We've made good progress through preseason and now it's nice to start out the season this way."

Binghamton surrendered just four shots on goal and amassed nine corner kicks.

Sophomore keeper Haylee Poltorak was called on to make just one save in posting her fifth career shutout. 

Binghamton has a short turnaround as it boards a flight Friday afternoon for Athens, Ga. ahead of a Sunday afternoon first-time tilt with SEC member Georgia.