VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton women's soccer looks to assert itself right out of the gate in conference play when the defending regular-season champion Bearcats (4-2-2) host UMass Lowell (3-4-1) in the America East opener Sunday afternoon. The teams tangle at 1 p.m. at the Bearcats Sports Complex.
Binghamton is 20-3-10 (76%) against conference opponents since 2022 and has won three of the last four America East regular season titles. Last year the Bearcats went unbeaten in league play for the second time in three years (5-0-3). The eight-game conference slate culminates with tournament play the first week in November.
The Bearcats have dropped two straight after opening the season with a six-game shutout streak – tied for longest in the nation. Last Sunday, Binghamton dropped a 1-0 decision to visiting Cornell in its final non-conference game.
Junior
Jahkaya Davis (3 goals) and senior
Paige Luke (2 goals, 2 assists) lead the team with six points. Senior keeper
Rebecca Kessler ranks second in the nation with six shutouts and owns a 0.38 goals against average.
UMass Lowell has won two straight after losing four of its previous five. The River Hawks beat Stonehill and New Haven by identical 1-0 margins. The other UML win was a 5-2 drubbing of Merrimack. The team returns the bulk of its lineup from a 6-5-6 squad that placed third in the America East and lost in the quarterfinals (PKs). Lowell was picked to finish fourth in the Coaches' Preseason Poll.
Binghamton leads the all-time series 10-4-2, though the teams have gone 1-1-1 head-to-head in the last three meetings. Last October, the Bearcats used a third-minute goal from
Alexus Worrell to win 1-0 in a road downpour. Two years ago, host Bing raced out to a 3-0 lead before UML scored three straight to forge a tie. Binghamton is 4-2-1 at home in the series, which dates back to 1998 when both programs were Division II.
NOTE
Miller Auto Team is the presenting sponsor of Binghamton women's soccer. Complimentary admission to all home games courtesy of
Miller Auto Team.
