Binghamton University Athletics

VESTAL, N.Y. - Host Maryland was awarded a controversial game-winning penalty kick with 47 seconds left when VAR overturned the call on the field and the resulting conversion lifted the Terps (3-2-1) past the visiting Bearcats (4-1-2) 2-1 Sunday afternoon before 1,013 fans at Ludwig Field.

The Bearcats were pressing for the go-ahead goal with a free kick and corner kick in the closing two minutes. But Maryland made one final push downfield and on Senior Day, the home team was the beneficiary of a heartbreaking non-call-turned-call when a Terps player went down in the box without the ball. 

The loss snapped two significant streaks for the Bearcats, who dropped their first regular-season game in 20 games dating back to August 2025 (12-1-7). Binghamton also saw its shutout streak snapped after six straight and 541+ minutes. That shutout string is a school and America East record to begin a season. Sunday's road game against the Big Ten member Terps finished a two-games-in-four-days stretch against Power 4 opponents after the Bearcats beat Syracuse 1-0 on Thursday. 

"Our kids did so well, particularly in the second half," head coach Neel Bhattacharjee said. "To go on the road to this environment against a Big 10 opponent and push to get a result ... especially with it being the fourth game in two back-to-back weekends ... shows the heart, grit and desire within this team. It's unfortunate the outcome came down to a very late situation because on the whole, we probably deserved more than the final result. But this was a very good experience and we will be better from it. I'm very proud of our effort."

Playing without two injured starting midfielders, Binghamton looked to have earned a hard-fought draw when freshman midfielder Chelsea Donaldson scored in the 74th minute. After graduate back Brooke Herber secured possession near midfield, senior back Sophia Garofalo sent a crisp pass into the attacking third. Senior forward Paige Luke one-touched it to sophomore Alexus Worrell on the right sideline. Worrell deftly worked her way down the wing and sent a cross toward the far post. Donaldson brought it down and slotted home a shot from eight yards. It was her second collegiate goal.  

Maryland opened the scoring just 1:51 into the contest on a 12-yard shot to the upper netting. The Bearcats had several great scoring chances and pressured with three corner kicks before arriving at halftime down 1-0.

In the second half, Binghamton quickly pressed for the equalizer and nearly had it 2:58 in when Luke's point-blank header was saved off a cross from senior wingback Megan Baker. The Bearcats kept attacking and hit the tying goal on a multi-player sequence. 

Binghamton returns to action next Sunday when the Bearcats close out non-conference play by hosting Cornell. 

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