VESTAL, N.Y. - After two plus weeks of training and a pair of preseason scrimmage wins, Binghamton women's soccer is set to open the 2019 season tonight when they welcome St. Bonaventure to the Bearcats Sports Complex. The teams will square off in their season opener for the fifth straight year at 7 p.m. in a game broadcast on ESPN+. 

Fourth-year head coach Neel Bhattacharjee returns nine starters and 20 letterwinners return from a 7-9-2 team of a year ago. That team went 2-6 in AE play and finished seventh, one spot out of the playoffs.

Junior forward Genna Michitti and senior forward Ryan Reilly are the team's leading returning scorers, having each totalled five points in 2018. Senior Lauren Spinnato and junior Erin Theiller anchor a back line that produced six shutout and 1.30 goals against average. Sophomore keeper Haylee Poltorak is back in a starting role.

Bona was picked 13th (out of 14) in the rugged Atlantic 10 Conference after finishing 12th last season with a 2-8 league record. The Bonnies return 19 players from that team, including senior forward and leading scorer Sydney Cerza (4 goals, 10 points) and senior midfielder Sabrina Sousa-Sampson (3 goals).

Senior keeper Lauren Malcolm returns after posting a 1.67 goals against average in 2018. Malcolm made 128 saves and played every minute of every game. 

Binghamton is 5-4-3 all-time against Bona and is undefeated in the last four head-to-head matchups (2-0-2). Last year the teams played to a 3-3 overtime draw in Olean.