VESTAL, N.Y. - Reigning America East Midfielder of the Year Olivia McKnight tallied a goal and an assist and Binghamton women's soccer (5-4-5, 4-0-2 America East) extended its unbeaten streak to seven games with a 2-0 win over visiting Vermont (8-5-1, 2-3-1 AE) Sunday afternoon at rain-soaked Bearcats Sports Complex.

With the win, BU kept its hold on first place in the conference standings with two regular season games remaining. Binghamton has 14 points, one ahead of second-place Maine (13) and three up on defending champion UNH (11). The Bearcats and Black Bears meet next Sunday in what could be a battle for the tournament's top seed. 

On a rainy and cool afternoon, BU struck for two goals in a six-minute span midway through the first half and then held off a Catamounts team that had scored 10 goals in its last three games. 

McKnight got things going in the 26th minute. Sophomore forward Lauren Clark won a header near midfield and graduate midfielder Victoria McKnight sent a ball over the top to freshman forward Paige Luke. In traffic, Luke rolled a ball out to the left, where Olivia McKnight was on a run. McKnight took a touch into the box and delivered a 15-foot shot to the lower right corner. McKnight's second goal of the season gave BU a 1-0 lead.

Six minutes later, junior midfielder Alex Marsteller stole the ball inside the attacking third and sent Olivia McKnight down the right side. McKnight dribbled into the box, cut back and slotted a ball to Reid, who took a touch and then blasted a shot to the upper netting. The goal was Reid's third of the season and the assist was McKnight's team-leading fifth.

Binghamton's defense stood strong throughout and junior keeper Kaitlyn Williams made a career-high 10 saves, several spectacular, to preserve her fifth shutout of the season.

"I'm pleased at how we played over the course of the 90 minutes," head coach Neel Bhattacharjee said. "We talked about coming up big in big moments and we certainly did that today with two quality finishes. We knew we would tested defensively, so for us to get a shutout was a tall order ... but we did it. Our back line was excellent and Kaitlyn was there to make some saves. It was a very good collective defensive effort."

Vermont held a 17-6 shots advantage  

Binghamton hosts Maine at noon next Sunday and can clinch the No. 1 tournament seed with a victory. The Bearcats finish out the regular season with an away match at NJIT on Oct. 26.