VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton women's soccer heads into its regular-season finale with much on the line when the Bearcats (8-5-3, 5-1-1 America East) travel to Baltimore to face UMBC (5-7-4, 1-4-2 AE) at 6 p.m. Thursday at Retriever Soccer Park. The Bearcats have gone 7-1-2 in their last 10 games and have already secured the program's fourth consecutive postseason berth. 

The Bearcats sit in a three-way tie (with UNH and Maine) for first place in the America East standings with 16 points. At stake is a regular season title and top seed for the upcoming playoffs, which begin with quarterfinals on Sunday. If BU can secure a top-two tournament seed, it would earn a bye into a home semifinal game on Nov. 3. Binghamton is already assured of a top-four finish and at least one home playoff game, but the Bearcats are setting their sites higher. Maine has finished its regular season at 16 points, meaning a tie at UMBC would give BU at worst, a second-place finish. A win, combined with a UMass Lowell home win over UNH would give the Bearcats the outright regular-season title and No. 1 seed. Tiebreaks to determine the top four seeds are likely to be put in play.

Binghamton is coming off a riveting 5-4 win over UMass Lowell on Sunday. The game featured five goals in the first half and four more in the second half, equaling the most combined goals scored in any game in Bearcats Sports Complex history. The barrage of goals included three by senior midfielder Olivia McKnight, who was named America East Offensive Player of the Week and also was selected for the College Soccer News National Team of the Week. 

Senior forward Maya Anand continues to lead the America East in goals (T-1st with 10) and points (1st with 24) and with another point-producing game in the finale, would further strengthen her case for conference Striker of the Year honors. Sophomore forward Peyton Gilmore, like McKnight, has six goals. The Bearcats have scored in bunches and now are averaging 2.0 goals per game - highest in the America East. Binghamton has scored three or more goals five times this season, including in three of the last five games. 

Senior keeper Nicole Scott returned to action after missing six weeks with an injury and made five saves in the first half against Lowell. Scott (1.79 GAA) snuffed out several River Hawks threats to keep the 3-2 BU lead at break. Sophomore Kaitlyn Williams played the second half and notched three saves. Each keeper has a save percentage of 82%. 

UMBC is coming off a 2-0 home loss to New Hampshire on Sunday. The Retrievers beat NJIT (1-0) for their lone conference win but also have ties against Bryant and Vermont. UMBC has been limited to 13 goals in 16 games this season and have been held to one goal or less in six of seven conference games. The team is tied for the sixth and last playoff spot (with NJIT). Junior forward Meghan McKye leads the team with five goals (1 vs. AE opponents).  

Binghamton holds a commanding 16-2-3 lead in the all-time series and has won the last five head-to-head against UMBC. Last season, BU posted a 4-1 win. The last time the teams met in Baltimore, however, the game went to overtime before the Bearcats prevailed 1-0 on April 9, 2021.