VESTAL, N.Y. - Coming off a key victory Sunday that strengthened the team's postseason chances, Binghamton women's soccer (2-1) heads to Burlington for a Thursday encounter with Vermont (1-2). It will be broadcast on ESPN3 at noon from Virtue Field.
The game between the familiar America East foes was added late to replace a lost matchup with Hartford (who ended its season) and thus, won't count in the standings. But for the Bearcats, who have two conference games remaining and are eyeing a postseason berth, it will be an important match for development and momentum. Binghamton and Vermont have each played the fewest number of games of any America East program.
The Bearcats are coming off a strong showing in Sunday's 1-0 home win over New Hampshire. The Wildcats had won six of the last nine in the series but BU was in control in this one, owning 62% of the possession and a commanding margin in shots (12-3) and quality scoring chances. A second-half goal by junior
Stefania Piantadosi, her conference-best second game-winner, gave BU the justified win and three points.
Binghamton got several players back from COVID protocols and two freshmen, defender
Emma Colling and midfielder
Lexi Vegoda, started and played a full 90 minutes. Colling also sent the ball into the box that led to Piantadosi's goal.
Junior keeper
Haylee Poltorak needed to make just three saves to earn her first shutout of the season.
Vermont is coming off a 2-1 road win last Thursday at NJIT. Before that, the Catamounts dropped results against Albany (2-0) and New Hampshire (2-1). Vermont was picked ninth in the preseason poll and returned its top two scorers and have 17 upperclassmen back from a 3-10-3 (1-6-2 AE) team of a year ago.
In the all-time series between the two programs, Vermont holds a narrow 10-9 edge, including a 6-4 mark in Burlington. Thirteen of the 19 games have been decided by one goal and interestlingly, the teams have never played to a tie. Vermont has won six of the last eight head-to-head, but BU posted a 3-2 home win in the last encounter on Sept. 22, 2019.
After the Vermont game, BU will return home and host NJIT in its Senior Day game on Sunday at the Bearcats Sports Complex.
