VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton women's soccer (3-4-3, 2-0 America East) scored twice in a 1:30 span late in the first half and went on to defeat visiting UMBC (3-8-1, 0-1-1 AE) 3-1 Sunday afternoon at rainy Bearcats Sports Complex. 

Headed toward a scoreless first half, BU instead struck for two goals in the final three minutes and then after the Retrievers got one back on an 'own goal,' BU iced it with an insurance goal in the 82nd minute. The win kept the defending regular season champion Bearcats unbeaten in conference play and in a share for first place (with Maine) and also raised their all-time record to 17-2-2 against UMBC.

"It took us a little while to get going," head coach Neel Bhattacharjee said. "But that started to change and it was huge to get that first goal and then the second goal right before half ... it's nice to walk into halftime with the 2-0 advantage. I thought we did a better job connecting passes in the second half. That third goal was really critical. I was pleased overall with the performance - any time you can get three points, it's great. Now we have to be ready for a hungry Albany team here on Thursday."

In the 43rd minute, BU broke through. A corner kick by senior back Lexi Vegoda was partially cleared but graduate midfielder Olivia McKnight sent a shot toward goal. The ball rattled through a few defenders to the foot of sophomore center back Brooke Herber, who made no mistake from four yards out. It was Herber's first goal of the season and second career tally. Just 1:34 later, sophomore forward Samiya Reid sent a cross into the middle, where McKnight struck a sliding shot that was blocked by a UMBC defender. The ball caromed right to sophomore forward Lauren Clark, who cashed in from six yards out for her third goal of the season.  

With 18:35 left in the game, a UMBC hard cross from the right flank bounced in off a BU defender to tighten the score, 2-1. Four minutes later, the Retrievers had a golden chance to tie but junior keeper Kaitlyn Williams (5 saves) leaped to get a hand on a blistering volley from point-blank range. 

Freshman Paige Luke then provided the breathing room in the 82nd minute. Graduate midfielder Victoria McKnight slid a perfect thru ball toward goal and Luke beat two UMBC defenders and the goalie to the ball. She toed it over the rushing keeper for her third tally of the season. 

The Bearcats held a 17-7 shots advantage and had the bulk of the possession, but had to endure a few tense minutes after UMBC got on the board in the 72 minute before Luke's goal assured the win.  

O. McKnight's two assists gives her a team-high four for the season and Clark and Luke joined Vegoda with their third goals of the campaign.

The Bearcats remain at home to host longtime SUNY rival Albany at 6:07 Thursday night. It will be a rematch of last fall's tournament semifinal game, when BU prevailed in a shootout to reach the America East title game.