VESTAL, N.Y. - Fourth-seeded UMass Lowell (5-5-7) scored the go-ahead goal early in the second overtime period and withstood heavy pressure from top-seeded Binghamton (6-5-6) in the closing minutes to end BU's season 2-1 in the America East semifinals Thursday night at the Bearcats Sports Complex. Lowell advances to face No. 2 Maine in Sunday's championship game.

The Bearcats were bidding to advance to the title game for the second straight year after repeating as regular season champions. Instead, UML notched the team's first road win of the entire season - a win that wasn't secured until BU's final golden opportunity was saved with five seconds left. 

"We are pretty gutted," head coach Neel Bhattacharjee said. "I thought over the course of the 110 minutes we played some pretty good soccer in stretches. Lowell had a few stretches here and there and unfortunately we gave up their first goal against the run of play and then the set piece in overtime. We had chances of our own but just couldn't tuck them away. I can't fault the effort ... this can be a cruel game and it was cruel to us tonight. I feel for our players, especially our upperclassmen who have given so much to our program. But as we look back at the season, we have a lot to be proud of, with another regular season title. We continue to make our name known as one of the top programs in the America East ... but it's unfortunate that tonight turned out the way it did."

The game started with a BU bang when freshman back Sophia Garofalo scored just 1:12 into the game. Senior back Lexi Vegoda struck the first of BU's eight corner kicks and played a short one to classmate Molly McClelland, who sent a ball deep into the box. Graduate defender Grace Vittoria headed it down and amid a crowd of UML defenders, Garofalo got her foot on it and banged into the upper 90 from four yards out. 

The Bearcats held the bulk of possession early before the River Hawks countered with strong pressure midway through the half. But BU held a 1-0 lead at the break. 

Binghamton had chances to extend its lead with the edge in possession and opportunities but it was UML that converted next to tie the game. In the 69th minute, the River Hawks won a ball inside midfield, played a ball into the middle and an uncovered run led to an 18-yard shot that found the netting inside the far post. 

Even at 1-1 through 90 minutes, the teams embarked on the two full 10-minute overtime periods and each had an excellent scoring opportunity. A UML shot with 1:50 left was deflected off the crossbar and grabbed by junior keeper Kaitlyn Williams (four saves). Then with time winding down, sophomore forward Lauren Clark intercepted a pass inside the UML box and chipped the ball over the keeper, only to have it cleared out of danger by a defender. 

The River Hawks tallied the eventual winner in the 102nd minute. A corner kick was redirected to the far post and headed in. 

Needing an equalizer in the final four minutes, BU had no less than a half-dozen balls into dangerous areas in front of the UML goal but couldn't convert. Garlofalo sent a chip off the crossbar with 2:52 left and then with 48 seconds left, sophomore all-conference back Brooke Herber sent a 12-yard blast that was saved by the River Hawks keeper. Clark had the final opportunity in the closing seconds, but her point-blank shot was saved again. 

Binghamton had 58% of the game's possession, outshot UML 19-11 and had an 8-2 advantage in corners. 

The defeat snapped BU's nine-game unbeaten streak and was the program's first loss to a conference opponent in 15 games dating back to last season (8-0-6). 

NOTE
Emma Colling and Olivia McKnight were selected as Binghamton's representatives on the All-Championship Team.