A night of hardship and sagging heads awaited the Binghamton University women’s soccer team last Sunday.
Syracuse (3-3-2) handed Binghamton (4-2-1) their second loss of the season with the brace of set-piece goals.
Things started badly for the Bearcats when Syracuse senior forward Amanda Arcuri set up sophomore forward and Binghamton native, Megan Bellingham for a goal on the one minute mark.
Syracuse continued to pile on the pressure, but none of their shots for the next 20 minutes were on target.
In the 22nd minute, Stefani Knopick managed to force a save out of home keeper, junior Eliza Bennett-Hattan; it would be Binghamton’s only shot of the game.
The Bearcats were out-shot 11-1 during the first half. Binghamton came out stronger in the second half.
“We came out a little flat to let in an early goal, but our players bounced back and played an excellent second half and were very soccer smart in determining when to attack and when to get numbers back,” said BU head coach Sarah McClellan.
The second period started with a couple of fouls for each team, as both teams were antsy about the close score line. Syracuse began to pressure Binghamton with a few shots on target after the 50th minute, and in the 66th minute, junior forward Tessa MacDougall turned that pressure into a goal.
MacDougall’s goal was assisted by Karrah Benson’s free kick and was her second goal of the season.
With 15 minutes to go, Syracuse replaced Hattan with junior Sami Hirsch.
Although beaten twice during the game, Jen McEachron, BU’s net-miner, was one of the Bearcats’ biggest performers, making nine saves throughout the match. McEachron was only beaten from set pieces, a first half corner and a second half free kick.
“The fact that we did not get scored on during the run of play speaks highly of our team effort,” McClellan said.
Binghamton looks for its next win tomorrow. They host Niagara at the Bearcats Sports Complex. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.