VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton women's soccer plays the middle game of three straight on the road when the Bearcats (1-0) travel to Buffalo to meet Canisius Thursday afternoon. The teams square off at 3 p.m. at Demske Sports Complex. Award-winning pro sports and college play-by-play veteran Howard Simon will have the call on ESPN+.   

The Bearcats are coming off a 3-2 win at George Washington on Sunday. Binghamton raced out to a 3-0 lead before holding off GW in the closing minutes. Freshman midfielder Anna Buckwalter netted a pair of goals in her collegiate debut. She was named America East Rookie of the Week and also earned a spot on the TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week. 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. 

Senior starting keeper Kaitlyn Williams didn't need to make a save in her clean first half. Sophomore Rebecca Kessler played the second half and recorded three saves. 

Head coach Neel Bhattacharjee used 16 players on a muggy day in D.C.

Canisius is making its season debut for 2022 MAAC Coach of the Year Ryan Lewis. The Griffs went 9-4-5 last season and earned the No. 3 seed for the MAAC tourney before bowing out in the opening round. Canisius was picked third in the MAAC Preseason Poll, behind only two-time defending tournament champion Quinnipiac and 2023 runnerup Fairfield. The squad boasts six all-conference players, including first team midfielder Emma Oliphant. Last season, Canisius was stingy on the back line, allowing just 13 goals in 18 games, with 10 shutouts. 

Binghamton holds a 5-1-2 lead in the all-time series, which began in 2000. The Bearcats are unbeaten in the last four (2-0-2), including a scoreless draw last August in Vestal. At Demske, Binghamton is 2-1.