VESTAL, N.Y. – Sophomore keeper Rebecca Kessler stopped four of six penalties and senior forward Hannah Mimas scored the clincher as No. 3 Binghamton women's soccer (7-5-4) took down No. 6 Vermont (8-5-4) 3-2 in a sudden death shootout to advance in an America East quarterfinal game Sunday afternoon at the Bearcats Sports Complex. The teams had played to a scoreless draw, necessitating the dramatic shootout. The advancement sends the Bearcats into the semifinals, where they will meet No. 2 UNH Thursday night in Durham.

Kessler, inserted into the game just for the shootout, stopped three straight kicks and then the first of the sudden death round with the score even at 2-2. Mimas, a first team all-conference selection, then delivered the finishing blow to send the home crowd and team into delirium.

Junior back Allison Falvo and freshman midfielder Anna Buckwalter also scored in the shootout for the Bearcats, who now advance to the semifinals for the third straight year and fourth time in the last five years.

"We are happy and relieved to advance," head coach Neel Bhattacharjee said. "We knew the second time around against Vermont would be difficult (after Bing won 3-0 two weeks ago). It was a pretty wide open game and both teams had chances, but I'm not surprised it went to PKs. It was fantastic for us to finish our shots and Rebecca (Kessler) was unbelievable. At this point it's survive and advance and even if it's not the prettiest, if it's effective ... and it was today." 

In a match featuring the top two scoring teams in the conference, neither team could put one away in the 110 minutes. Instead of goals, the physical match featured 36 fouls and four cards.  

Senior keeper Kaitlyn Williams made seven saves to keep the Catamounts off the board.

The Bearcats were playing on less than three days' rest after their regular season finale Thursday night at UAlbany, while Vermont had the bye game and was idle for a week.

With the tie, Binghamton extended its unbeaten streak to seven games (4-0-3).