VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton women's soccer (1-1) pumped in two second-half goals to shut out visiting Temple (0-1-1) 2-0 Sunday afternoon at the Bearcats Sports Complex. As a rain storm loomed nearby, BU picked up its game in the second half and earned a strong win against an Owls team that was coming off a tie against Big Ten member Maryland.

Seniors Maya Anand and Olivia McKnight notched goals and in-between, BU's young defense held steady against a Temple attack that produced 11 second-half shots (17 total). 

After Temple controlled play for much of the scoreless first half (59%), BU struck just 46 seconds into the second. Freshman forward Lauren Clark took on two defenders on the left side before dishing to junior midfielder Molly McClelland down the wing. McClelland sent a ball into the box, where a charging Anand outpaced her mark and met it seven yards out. She snapped a header into the near corner to give the Bearcats a 1-0 lead.

The Owls then pressed forward for a stretch of time before McKnight provided breathing room with a solo effort on the right. In the 67th minute, she outmaneuvered a defender inside the box and charged toward goal. From a tight angle inside the six, she sent an initial shot that was partially blocked by the Temple keeper. But the ball squirted behind her and McKnight followed up and fired in the rebound from the doorstep.   

"I'm proud of this team," head coach Neel Bhattacharjee said. "We knew Temple was going to be hard-working and organized. They gave us a few more tactical situations than we expected in the first half and we were late at times to adjust. I thought we made two specific adjustments at halftime and that flipped the game for us. Getting that early goal in the second half really helped. For us to come out and get two quality goals and the shutout ... our back line and goalkeeping needed that. We are finding out about ourselves, being a new and young team, and we are learning what we are capable of."

Senior Nicole Scott and sophomore Kaitlyn Williams shared the shutout with each playing a half. Both made four saves and both intercepted numerous other dangerous balls in the box. 

Next, the Bearcats start a stretch of three straight road games with a Thursday night match at Marist.