VESTAL, N.Y. - Junior
Paige Luke and sophomore
Jahkaya Davis scored two goals apiece and Binghamton women's soccer (4-1) roared to a 3-0 halftime cushion en route to a 4-1 win over previously unbeaten George Washington (1-1-2) Sunday afternoon at the Bearcats Sports Complex.
The win, Binghamton's fourth in five games to start the season, featured a flurry of first-half goals - all in a 17-minute span. It was the first time the Bearcats have netted three in the opening half since 2022.
"We were waiting for this type of game," head coach
Neel Bhattacharjee said. "I felt like we've had some convincing wins but they haven't shown on the score line ... but today it showed. Paige and Jahkaya had good good finishes and we kept up the energy. I'm really happy with the performance today."
Luke got things started in the 13th minute. Junior wing back
Megan Baker dribbled to the right endline and sent a cross into the goalmouth, where sophomore midfielder
Anna Buckwalter backheeled it to Luke, who tapped it in from two yards out. Twelve minutes later, Davis got started with her first tally of the day. Luke sprung her behind the GW back line and Davis finished the 1-on-1 chance with the left foot for a 2-0 lead.
Five minutes later, Davis returned the favor, feeding Luke in the middle and setting up a 20-yard strike to the top netting. It was Luke's third goal of the season.
In the second half, the teams played scoreless for 28+ minutes before Davis notched her second goal of the game and fifth of the season. Sophomore
Alexus Worrell started the scoring play with a pass to classmate
Sofia Miller in the middle. Miller then threaded a ball past three defenders to a streaking Davis, who beat the GW keeper to the ball, cut around her and rolled it into the empty net from four yards.
GW got on the board in the 76th minute with a penalty kick conversion.
The Bearcats owned a 15-6 shots advantage. Junior keeper
Rebecca Kessler needed to make just two saves.
Binghamton next heads to Syracuse to face the Orange (3-1-2).
NOTE
Davis leads the America East in goals (5) and points (12) ... Luke is second with three goals and eight points.
