VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton women's soccer has a second-straight America East regular season title and No. 1 playoff seed on the line Thursday when the Bearcats (5-4-6, 4-0-3 America East) travel to Newark to face NJIT (7-5-5, 3-3-1 AE). Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.

The first-place Bearcats (15 pts.) are riding an eight-game unbeaten streak (4-0-4) and haven't lost in conference play. A win over the fifth-place Highlanders would clinch the regular season crown and give BU home field throughout the playoffs. Binghamton could also secure the title without a win, depending on the result of the other pivotal game between second-place Maine (14 pts.) and third-place New Hampshire (12 pts.). The Bearcats are already assured of hosting a semifinal game on Nov. 2. A win or tie would also give BU its first-ever unbeaten conference season. 

On Sunday, BU rallied from a 2-0 hole to tie Maine 2-2 on Senior Day. Graduate midfielder Olivia McKnight and freshman forward Paige Luke tallied the goals. It was McKnight's third of the season and Luke's fourth, which is the most of any rookie in the conference. 

Senior back Lexi Vegoda leads the team with 12 points (4 goals, 4 assists) and McKnight has a team-high five assists and 11 points. Luke and sophomore forward Lauren Clark have four goals apiece. In back, junior keeper Kaitlyn Williams owns a 1.21 goals against average and five shutouts.

NJIT is coming off a 3-2 road win at Vermont and has won four of its last six to climb the standings. The Highlanders can still finish as high as third in the conference after finishing sixth a year ago. The team's other America East wins have come against UMBC (2-1) and Bryant (1-0). Sophomore forward Briana Andreoli leads the team with six goals and 15 points. Junior keeper Samantha Constantine carries a 1.17 goals against average with six shutouts. 

Binghamton is 5-0 all-time against NJIT, including a 1-0 home win last season that wasn't secured until the closing two minutes. The last time the teams met in Newark, BU prevailed 2-1 in double overtime in 2021.