VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton women's soccer opens its 2026 season by hosting Lehigh Thursday night - the first of two straight home games to kick off the season. The Bearcats and Mountain Hawks will tangle at 6:07 p.m. at the Bearcats Sports Complex. The two teams meet to open the season for a second straight year. 

Binghamton returns nine starters for 11th-year head coach Neel Bhattacharjee and the program has captured three America East regular-season titles in the last four years. Last year's squad orchestrated a 10-win, 1-loss season that included another America East regular season title and a 13-game unbeaten streak that stretched 10+ weeks from August to November. The 2026 edition will aim to continue a searing pace against conference opponents – one that has yielded just three combined losses in the last four years. But more importantly, Bhattacharjee's squad will look to break through for a coveted tournament title and accompanying NCAA berth in November.

Patriot League member Lehigh is coming off a 3-11-3 season - one that was slowed by four one-goal defeats. The Mountain Hawks claimed a victory over fellow America East member NJIT and also defeated La Salle and Holy Cross. The 2025 team had nine different goal scorers but none tallied more than three. 

Lehigh leads the all-time series 5-3 though Binghamton won last year's opener, 2-1 in Bethlehem. In that game, Paige Luke scored in the fourth minute before Lehigh countered in the 33rd. The Bearcats scored the game-winner in the 49th minute when Alexus Worrell tapped in a rebound. Rebecca Kessler was asked to make just three saves as the Bearcats controlled the game on the road. Before last season, the teams hadn't met in nine years (2016). Binghamton is 3-1 all-time at home in the series. 

NOTE
Miller Auto Team is the presenting sponsor of Binghamton women's soccer. Complimentary admission to all home games courtesy of Miller Auto Team.