The Binghamton University women’s soccer team, with a 6-2 record, has had its best conference season since it joined Division I eight years ago.
Kasey Robb/Contributing Photographer
In the final game of conference play, Binghamton shut out New Hampshire on the road last Sunday to finish second in the America East Conference with its best record since 2005.
The only goal scored during the match came early, just 6:33 into the first half, when freshman midfielder Emily Pape scored her fourth goal of the season, putting her on-level with Jamie Holliday for the team lead. Pape also received the Rookie of the Week distinction for the second time this season. The goal was unassisted, after Pape kicked the ball off the crossbar, and it landed behind the goal line. Head coach Sarah McClellan said that the goal set the tone for the rest of the game.
“It definitely got us off on the right foot,” she said. “It was a good start to the game and we wanted to score early so it was nice to get an early goal where we could relax a little bit and play out the game.”
From that point on no goals would get past either team’s keepers, as Bearcats goalkeepers Erin Iman and Jen McEachron shared their seventh shutout this season.
The BU defense worked as one to maintain the shutout, allowing the Wildcats only seven shots. McClellan had nothing but praise of the team’s defensive effort.
“[The defense] had good communication in the back,” she said. “Our players were able to read the game well against New Hampshire. They knew what New Hampshire was trying to do offensively and were able to shut that down. Our first half was just a great effort and we had most of the run of the play in the first half, which helped our overall performance.”
Sunday’s game marked the end of the regular season, and the Bearcats’ win launched them into second place in America East, earning them a bye and an automatic entrance into the semifinals. Despite a 0-3-1 record with no goals to start the season, McClellan is not surprised about her team’s success.
“I think the key has been that our players have stayed on course,” she said. “We’ve been improving every game and every week and every training session we’re working hard to continue to be committed … We knew that [the wins] were going to be coming, the question was how early in the season and we’re still getting better every game … Our players worked very hard in the conference season to get themselves in the position to have a first round bye and to host the semifinals.”
The team is set to face the winner of the New Hampshire and Maine quarterfinal. McClellan is optimistic about the Bearcats’ chances.
“We’ve beaten both of those teams on the road this season so we’re really excited to be able to have one of them come to us in the semifinals,” she said. “We’re gonna be looking forward to that game on Sunday but we’re also gonna take the full week to refocus ourselves, re-energize and prepare to play on Sunday … We’re happy with our play in conference, and we’re excited for the playoffs.”