Binghamton University women’s soccer (4-1-2) faced the University of Maryland (3-2-1) in a game that concluded with a controversial 2-1 loss.

UMD took an early goal under two minutes into the game. Binghamton followed quickly with several shot attempts to pressure for an equalizer. Junior forwards Jahkaya Davis and Alexus Worrell worked to create opportunities near the goal, with Davis’ shot blocked by the UMD goalkeeper and Worrell’s just missing high over the net.

Fouls were called on both ends of the pitch, showing both teams’ aggressive approach. UMD was in the lead at the end of the first half, but Binghamton stayed resilient, building a solid foundation with three corner kicks and aiming to continue their game plan heading into the second half.

Coming out of the intermission, both teams made multiple player substitutions once again. Binghamton wasted no time chasing their first goal as senior defender Megan Baker shot toward the goal, aiming for the bottom right, but was blocked by the Terrapins’ goalkeeper.

Within the span of just a few minutes, senior goalkeeper Rebecca Kessler blocked a series of two attempted goals by UMD. Halfway through the second half, Worrell assisted freshman midfielder Chelsea Donaldson on a goal, earning the Bearcats their first and only goal of the game.

“Alexus did well, she created pressure on the right side and then we were able to get her on the right flank,” said head coach Neel Bhattacharjee.

He added that “[Donaldson] did really well to be composed as the goalkeeper was coming out and to finish it. It was a good sequence and we fought pretty good in the second half.”

With less than a minute left in the game, the Terrapins managed to score following a corner kick sequence. They were awarded a penalty kick, which became the game-winning goal.

During the final minutes of the game, the Bearcats also worked the field, trying to create another scoring opportunity, or at the very least, prevent another goal by Maryland.

The game’s end was more than just a loss, as Binghamton lost two streaks of the season: their 20-game regular-season winning streak and their six-game streak without allowing a goal.

“[It was] pretty much a heartbreaker to lose the game like that with just a few seconds left, but we will learn from it and definitely get better defensively from it and use that to improve on us and get us ready for Conference play,” said Bhattacharjee.

The Bearcats will return to their home turf to face Cornell University at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, the last of their nonconference games.