WASHINGTON, D.C. – Binghamton women's soccer (1-0) built a 3-0 lead and hung on for a 3-2 win over host George Washington (0-1-1) in its season opener Sunday afternoon at Mount Vernon Athletic Complex.

The Bearcats rode a pair of goals from freshman midfielder Anna Buckwalter and fended off a late push from their Atlantic 10 hosts.

Senior forward Hannah Mimas added a goal and an assist for the Bearcats, who won in their season opener for the first time since 2020. Binghamton extended a 2-0 halftime lead with a third goal in the 48^th minute before GW mounted a rally. But the Bearcats' defense stiffened enough in the closing minutes to preserve the win.  

"It's great to start off the season with a win, especially on the road," head coach Neel Bhattacharjee said. "We had three outstanding goals and it was great to see Anna (Buckwalter) and Hannah (Mimas) get off to terrific starts. In the second half the match became tighter and we knew GW would respond ... so there are things we will look to improve upon. Feeling the DC mugginess after a preseason in the Southern Tier was difficult ... but credit to our group for getting the job done. We will enjoy the result, recover and then turn our attention to another foe on the road at Canisius."

Just 8:35 into the contest, Mimas took a touch from sophomore midfielder Paige Luke on the left side and took it to the endline before sending it across the goalmouth. There, freshman midfielder Anna Buckwalter finished a strong run to goal by just getting a toe on the ball from six yards out and rolling it into the empty net. It was Buckwalter's first collegiate goal.

Then in the 32^nd minute, Binghamton cashed in on a quick counter. Sophomore center back Sophia Garofalo sent a long ball to senior strike Mackenzie Ryder, who one-timed it back to Luke at midfield. Luke then carved out a perfect through ball on the left to a streaking Mimas, who outpaced her mark and delivered a missile past the keeper and into the far corner for her first goal as a Bearcat.

Binghamton had a 9-2 shots margin in the first half.

The Bearcats seemingly put the game out of reach with a third goal just 2:23 into the second half. Sophomore Megan Baker sent a left side throw-in to Luke, who slotted a ball to Buckwalter in the middle of the field. Buckwalter took a touch and then rifled a 21-yard left footer into the upper 90.

But GW answered with a goal in the 55^th minute off a scramble in the box and then added another in the 77^th minute to keep the outcome in doubt. The Revolutionaries outshot Bing 10-5 in the second half.

Binghamton next plays at Canisius Thursday afternoon in Buffalo.