VESTAL, N.Y. - Senior forward Mackenzie Ryder scored a first-half goal but visiting NJIT got the equalizer early in the second half and despite a big cushion in shots and possession, Binghamton women's soccer (5-5-3, 2-2-1 America East) had to settle for a 1-1 draw with the Highlanders (3-9-2, 0-4-1 AE) Thursday night at the Bearcats Sports Complex.

The tie extended Binghamton's unbeaten streak to three but the two points left on the table prohibited the Bearcats from elevating in the standings. With three games remaining in the regular season, Binghamton is in a tie for fifth place. The top six teams advance to the postseason tournament.

"We are disappointed not to get the full three points tonight," head coach Neel Bhattacharjee said. "I thought we did a number of things to have an advantage in shots, possession, shots on goal ... and I thought we created enough to get a second goal. We knew NJIT would be physical and hard to break down and also that they would be good on the counter. Over the course of 90 minutes I thought we did enough but it didn't work out that way. It's frustrating but that's the game sometimes."

Ryder gave Binghamton a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute. Freshman midfielder Anna Buckwalter sent a corner kick into the box, where Ryder headed it home from seven yards for her fourth goal of the season. 

But NJIT struck in the 57th minute to tie. A turnover near midfield quickly turned into a ball past the back line and a breakaway on the right side. The Highlanders' forward finished low from 16 yards. 

The Bearcats held a 10-3 shots cushion in the second half and had two dangerous free kicks in the final 21 minutes but couldn't break the tie. Binghamton held 64 percent of the possession in the game.

Binghamton next travels to Burlington for a Sunday afternoon match with Vermont.