BURLINGTON, VT. - Binghamton women's lacrosse clinched a bid to the America East playoffs Saturday afternoon, defeating Vermont 11-10 in an overtime thriller. The team stepped up with its back against the wall, shutting down a strong offensive Catamount squad. Kristen Scheidel scored the game-winning goal to send the Bearcats to Albany, where they will play Vermont again in the America East semifinal.

"We knew we had more in us this season," head coach Stephanie Allen said. "Today was about pushing our limits and battling to extend the season. I'm very proud of our relentlessness and can't wait to carry this momentum into the postseason."

The defense was stellar in this one, holding a Vermont team averaging over 14 goals per game, to just 10. Emily Manning made 10 saves and Kelly Quinn and Abby Carroll had three caused turnovers apiece.

Offensively, the Bearcats continued a balanced scoring attack. Four players scored two goals, and Madison Murphy had a goal and three assists. Carroll changed the game in the midfield, adding three draw controls and four ground balls alongside her two goals.

Sofia Afkham opened the scoring in the first quarter, finishing off one of Murphy's three assists. The Catamounts answered with two straight to take the lead before Scheidel scored her first goal of the game to tie it up. Vermont's Grace Giancola scored the final goal of the quarter.

Despite giving up a goal to kick off the second quarter, BU outscored the Catamounts 4-1 in the remaining 11:53. Emily Masera scored twice over the course of a minute, and Murphy and Carroll each scored to carry Binghamton to a 6-5 lead at the half.

In a defensive third quarter, Vermont scored twice in the opening five minutes to take back the lead at 7-6. The Bearcats responded with two goals by freshmen Marisa Tancredi and Carroll to capture an 8-7 edge heading to the fourth quarter.

Vermont carried momentum, scoring three times to open the fourth. Trailing 10-8, Isabella Meli scored to cut the deficit to one. Hayley Weltner, who helped turn the tide with several late draw controls, grabbed another to give Binghamton the ball right back. Tancredi scored the equalizer off an assist from Murphy at the 2:59 mark. Neither team found the back of the net again before the end of regulation.

Weltner won another key draw control to open overtime, but Binghamton turned the ball over on its first offensive possession. Then, a caused turnover by Quinn gave BU another possession. Scheidel drove in and got fouled, earning a free position attempt. The sophomore bounced her shot into the bottom left side of the goal to give the Bearcats the win and their second playoff berth in four seasons.
 

Up Next
No. 3 seeded Binghamton will take on No. 2 Vermont in the America East Semifinal Thursday after No. 1 seeded Albany takes on No. 4 UMBC. All games will be played at Albany. BU's game is set to begin at 6 p.m.