By Lance Beaumont
On a rainy Friday night, Binghamton University’s women’s soccer team was expecting the win that would break last season’s overall wins record, a win that was to come with some style, defense and overall class.
The Bearcats (4-1) outplayed their opponents from the start, using quality passing and teamwork to keep Iona College off balance. When the Gaels (0-6) managed to gain possession, they had a tendency to lose the ball on some sloppy passes and aggressive tackles.
“We knew we needed to finish and we stepped up,” said Binghamton head coach Sarah McClellan.
An early chance for the Bearcats came when the ball was crossed into the box and a teammate tapped the ball back into the path of sophomore Dani Raske, but her finish was fired high over the bar.
In the 25th minute, Raske took a ball from BU junior Amanda Casares and played a chip, which left Iona goalkeeper, Suzanne Baldissard, a spectator as she watched the ball sail over her head and into the back of the net.
Then, in the 38th minute, BU sophomore defender Stefani Knopick took a through pass and directed it to Raske, who put it away with a finish to double the Bearcat lead.
The second half started packed full of action as Raske finished off a ball from Casares and BU senior Charlotte Foster. Raske achieved the impressive hat trick as the ball slid across the face of the goal. It was the first hat trick for a Binghamton player since 2001.
For her effort in the game and her work over the course of the season thus far, Raske was named America East Conference Player of the Week.
“She can play anywhere,” McClellan said. “She’s a dynamic player on the ball.”
Some Binghamton pressure led to a penalty chance for Casares, but Baldissard was able to save the shot with an intuitive dive to her left. Baldissard finished the game with 11 saves on 20 Bearcat shots. Binghamton goalkeeper Jen McEachron made only one save and recorded her third shutout of the season. She ranks second in the America East for shutouts.
Casares, who had two assists in the game to up her season total to six, was at the heart of the offensive pressure for the Bearcats. She helped fuel the attack with fast break runs and by moving the ball well.
“Mandy’s a very smart player,” McClellan said. “She’s one of our hardest workers.”
Much of the credit for this win must go to the Bearcats’ stifling defense. Led by Knopick, senior Nicole Montoya, junior Erica Goldberg and freshman Jen Abbate, Binghamton was able to hold the Gaels to only three shots on goal. Gaels junior forward Alison Moroni recorded the lone shot on goal for Iona.
The Bearcats’ next test will be against Rider tomorrow at the Bearcats Sports Complex. The Broncs (1-5-1) are coming off a 3-1 loss to North Florida. Rider goalkeeper Alex Post made eight saves in the contest and now has 58 for the season. She boasts a 1.64 goals-against-average, and has played every moment of the Broncs’ seven games so far. Freshman Jordan Bunch leads the team with four points, including two goals. Sophomore Lauren Musumeci leads the team with 14 shots and is second on the team with three points.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
– Bryan Haas contributed to this article.