VILLANOVA, Pa. (binghamtonbearcats.com) - Binghamton Women's Lacrosse is poised to begin its 2024 America East title defense this Saturday, Feb. 8, at Villanova. Start time is slated for 10 a.m. on FloSports. 

"This year we're focused on staying hungry and humble," Head Coach Stephanie Allen said. "We talked more recently about the way you do anything is the way you do everything, making sure that we're really attentive to details and taking care of the little things out there."

"I think biggest thing we've been harping on lately is discipline," she added. "We know what it takes. Now we have to be disciplined in the process and make sure that we continue to improve and get better every day."

LAST SEASON ON BEARCAT WOMEN'S LAX
Binghamton claimed its first America East Championship in program history over UAlbany, 12-11, May 4, 2024. The victory also marked the Bearcats first-ever win over the Great Danes. Binghamton went on to appear in its first NCAA Championship vs No. 6 Yale and claimed its first share of the conference's regular season title. 

The 2024 campaign featured the most wins (12) and longest win streak (8) in the team's 23-year history. The Bearcats led America East opponents in points (22.17), goals (15.17), and assists (7.00) per game and ranked in the top-25 nationally in draw controls per game (15.32). 

Olivia Muscolino, Kristen Scheidel and Angelina Suau earned America East First Team honors while Madison Murphy and Hayley Weltner were named to the Second Team. Emma Blloshmi and Mia Forte took home All-Rookie nods and Scheidel grabbed an All-Academic distinction. 

Muscolino set a new Binghamton single-season record for points (72), goals (52), and shots (120) last spring. Weltner rose to first in Bearcat history for career draw controls (266) and career draw controls per game (4.67). Her 107 draw controls in 2024 also broke her own single-season record of 102 from the previous spring.

CATS ON TOP
Binghamton was selected first in the America East Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll, Jan. 15. Binghamton earned 36 points and six unanimous first-place votes to repeat as conference champions.  

Last year's runner ups, UAlbany landed in second with 30 points and one first-place vote ahead of UMass Lowell who garnered 25 points for third. UMBC finished fourth with 23 points followed by Vermont with 14 points and Bryant with 13 for fifth and sixth place, respectively. New Hampshire took the final spot with six points. 

New this season, four Bearcats earned places on the America East Preseason All-Conference Team. Blloshmi, Muscolino, Abigail Carroll and Suau represented Binghamton as members, tied with UMass Lowell for the most selections this spring. 

ON THE SCHEDULE 
The Bearcats 2025 campaign features six home games, nine road contests and a 15-3 scrimmage victory against Saint Francis to start the season at home, Feb. 3. 

"It was great to get out there and get a scrimmage under our belt," said Allen. "It's always good to have a little dress rehearsal before you step out there for the real deal. And we got a lot of different people in the game and especially to see our freshmen get out there, get the opportunity to have a real game feel and the added pressure that comes along with that. I thought they did outstanding."

The slate consists of nine nonconference opponents from six different leagues, including the Big East, Ivy League, Patriot League and Atlantic 10. Binghamton will face six of the same nonconference opponents from last season while Villanova, St. Bonaventure, Brown and Manhattan, return to schedule this spring. The Bearcats begin their America East campaign in late March against the usual collection of league opponents. 

After its season opener at Villanova, Feb.8, Binghamton returns home to face Colgate, Wednesday, Feb. 12. 

The Bearcats stay in state for a three-game road stand next at Siena, Feb. 15, St. Bonaventure, Feb. 19, and Marist, March 1. Binghamton comes back to Vestal for two spring break contests vs. Campbell, March 5, and Brown, March 9, before concluding non conference play on the road at Manhattan, March 12, and Cornell, March 18.

"I think it's important to have a good balance of confidence building games, winnable, competition, games that are going to challenge you in the way that our America East competition is going to do," Allen stated. "This year, more than ever, a ton of parody in the conference league. And we've got to make sure that we're prepared and challenged in different ways throughout the course of our non-conference schedule."

The reigning America East Champions begin their maiden title defense at Bryant, March 22. The Bearcats then return to the Southern Tier for two home competitions against UMBC, March 29, and Vermont, April 5. 

Binghamton will face UMass Lowell, April 12, and New Hampshire, April 16, on the road before closing out the regular season at home vs. UAlbany, April 26. 

The America East Championship is set for May 2-4 with time and location to be announced at a later date. 
"It's exciting to see America East teams getting better and evolving," Allen said. "I think for us, you know, every game matters - it's not a walk in the park type of competition within our conference schedule. And I'm excited to see how our team handles the level of competition continuing to rise."

BINGHAMTON'S BEARCATS
Twenty-three student-athletes return to the Vestal for the Bearcats this season while 11 freshmen joined this fall. The team features four goalkeepers, eight attackers, 11 defenders, and 12 midfielders. 

"I think the biggest thing this offseason has been the integration of our 11 freshmen, but it's almost happened seamlessly," remarked Allen. "They're really eager to get out there and contribute and make an impact every day. I think our scrimmages showed us that we're going to be able to use them alot throughout this season." 

America East First-Team selections Muscolino and Suau enter their final seasons for Binghamton as team captains. The 2024 America East Championships' Most Outstanding Player Sofia Salgado and teammate Marisa Tancredi earned the final captain spots and will appear for Binghamton later this season. 

"We've got a great leadership group," said Allen. "Not only do we have four tremendous captains that are setting the tone and modeling behavior every day, but we have squad leaders that support each other and help deliver our team's message really consistently." 

All-Rookie honorees Blloshmi and Mia Forte return for their second seasons in a Bearcat uniform. Attacker Carla Curth, along with defenders Gretel Cassell and Gaby Castillo, are also expected to remain major contributors for Binghamton this spring. 

FALL PREPARATIONS
The Bearcats competed in four contests this fall to prepare for the upcoming season. Binghamton hosted Le Moyne, Sept. 28, before the team traveled to Delaware, Oct. 12
Binghamton finished out the fall ball schedule at Lehigh, Oct. 20, and Rutgers, Oct. 26. 

SOMETHING SPECIAL
Bearcat Women's Lacrosse is set to host six promotional games at home this spring to advocate and support specific causes close to the team and its players. 

Binghamton begins the promotional schedule with its LaCROSSe Out Cancer Awareness game against Colgate, Feb. 12 at. The Bearcats join with the national LaCROSSe Out Cancer organization to raise critically needed funding for pediatric cancer research. Free hot chocolate will also be given out by Binghamton's External Advancement Team. 

Next, Binghamton hosts its Pride and America East Spread Respect game against Campbell, March 5. AE's Spread Respect initiative raises awareness to ensure equality and safety for all student-athletes, coaches and fans without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. 

Binghamton scheduled its One Love game vs Brown, March 9. The women's lacrosse team will advocate for the One Love Foundation, a national nonprofit with the goal of ending relationship abuse by empowering young people with tools and resources to see and prevent the signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships. 

The Bearcats bring America East competition back to Vestal with their Morgan's Message and Better Together game vs. UMBC, March 29. The two causes strive to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community, create more mentally healthy environments for those student-athletes and equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics. 

Binghamton hosts Youth Day and Pass with a Player game with its contest against Vermont, April 5. Kids grades eight and under who attend will be able to pass with Bearcat student-athletes after the game.

The Bearcats conclude their promotional schedule with the team's Senior Day and Special Olympics game vs. UAlbany, April 26.  

SERIES HISTORY VS. VILLANOVA
Binghamton and Villanova will face each other for the first time in program history Saturday. 

"They're a very deep team with a large roster and a lot of outstanding talent," Allen said. "They graduated some, but they return a lot of their point production. So I think for us, that'll be a good challenge." 

Binghamton's last matchup against a Big East member came against UConn, Mar 16, 2013, where the Huskies defeated the Bearcats 19-8, in Storrs, Conn. Binghamton owns an 0-5 record against current Big East teams, four coming from UConn between 2010-2013 and a one 18-15 loss to Denver, Feb. 20, 2009.

UP NEXT 
Binghamton returns to Vestal for its home opener against Colgate, Wednesday, Feb. 12. First draw is scheduled for 3 p.m. 

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