In a non-conference matchup against Siena College on Tuesday, the Binghamton University women’s lacrosse team failed to complete a second-half comeback and fell to the Saints 8-6. The loss extended the team’s current losing streak to six games.

Binghamton (3-10, 0-4 America East) found the net first with an opening goal off the stick of freshman Emma Hayes-Hurley, her sixth goal of the season, less than a minute into the game. The match would reach a tie three different times before the end of the half, when the Bearcats found themselves down by a goal at 5-4.

At the start of the second half, Siena (6-9, 3-2 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) extended its lead to 7-4 with a little over 17 minutes to go.

Following the script of late, Binghamton made a spirited second-half run with goals from junior Kimberly McGeever and senior Lis Zuern to close the gap to just one goal with five minutes remaining.

But as has been a common characteristic of the Binghamton squad that has been unable to come out on top in six consecutive games, the Bearcats yet again fell short as Siena junior Katie Maguire sealed the win with 1:16 remaining. The game-winner also completed her hat trick.

BU freshman goaltender Kara Pafumi had another solid game, saving 11 Siena shots on goal and coming up big late in the game with a save to preserve what was at the time a one-goal deficit. Pafumi now has a total of 109 saves on the season, the most by a freshman in a single season in BU history.

The Bearcats’ offensive struggles on Tuesday are nothing new and seemingly stand as a road block to the team’s success. In each of their three wins so far this season, they have accumulated at least 11 goals, whereas they have failed to reach the 10-goal mark in five of their last six games, all losses.

The Saints outshot Binghamton 23-18. Draw controls, always a point of emphasis for head coach Tony Zostant, were in favor of Binghamton, 10-6. However, the Saints’ defense stepped up and forced 15 Binghamton turnovers. Siena was led on offense by Maguire and Michelle Andreo, who had three goals and an assist.

Binghamton’s offense was headed by McGeever, whose goal and two assists led all Binghamton point scorers. She is chasing a BU assists record and needs six assists in the final three games to eclipse the mark set by Becky Green in 2004 of 32 assists in a season.

Hayes-Hurley tallied a goal and an assist, and constant contributor Zuern added a goal for Binghamton.

Other scorers for Binghamton were juniors Casey Bulman and Kristen Stone as well as freshman Renee Kiviat, who now has 11 points on the season.

Binghamton is next scheduled to resume America East play with a match against The University of Vermont scheduled for Saturday. The Bearcats topped the Catamounts last year 14-13, but are just 2-8 against UVM all time.

Game time in Vermont is set for noon.