VESTAL, N.Y. – Junior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Williams made four saves as the Binghamton women's soccer team fell in a hard-fought battle to Big Ten opponent Maryland 1-0 Sunday at the Bearcats Sports Complex.
 
This is the second team from a Power Five conference that the Bearcats have faced this season. The other game was against ACC member Syracuse on Aug. 27, which Binghamton lost 2-1.
 
"Proud of the performance," said Binghamton Head Coach Neel Bhattacharjee. "Just disappointed, gutted for the result. We went toe-to-toe with a Big Ten opponent."
 
The only goal of the game for Maryland came on a penalty kick by sophomore midfielder Ava Morales at 81:04. The strike came after a kicked ball inadvertently hit the arm of Binghamton junior midfielder Alex Marsteller inside the box.
 
Binghamton came out of the gates strong, having possession of the ball for 55 percent of the first half. Neither team, however, was able to get a shot on goal during the first 45 minutes. The Bearcats did have their chances, however, as they recorded three shots during the frame. In the 20th minute, graduate defender Grace Vittoria received the ball near the net and got off a shot that just went wide of the goal.
 
Maryland responded with a strong performance in the second half, recording a total of 10 shots during the frame. But Williams and the Bearcats' defense met the challenge. In one of the biggest sequences of the game in the 73rd minute, Maryland got off consecutive shots inside the box, only for both sophomore forward Samiya Reid and senior defender Lexi Vegoda to block each shot from getting into the back of the net.
 
Senior defender Emma Colling picked up the only shot on goal for Binghamton the entire game. In the 80th minute, she got off a shot at the top of the box before it was saved by Maryland junior goalkeeper Liz Beardsley.
 
"Really proud of what we were able to do against a quality side," said Bhattacharjee. "We know this is the type of game that's going to help us for prep for America East play."
 
Before America East play begins for the Bearcats against New Hampshire on Sunday, Sept. 17, Binghamton will travel up the road to Ithaca, N.Y., to play Cornell on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m.