CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-- Binghamton University and Stony Brook University each advanced to the semifinals of the America East Women's Soccer Championship on Thursday evening.
The Bearcats, the No. 6 six seed, played third-seeded Hartford to a 1-1 tie through 110 minutes of play and knocked off the Hawks in a shootout, 6-5. Tricia Reed gave Binghamton a 1-0 lead with a goal 16:05 into the contest. The Hawks, the 2006 champion, evened the score with less than 15 minutes to go as Meagan Riemer, a first-team all-conference selection, put the ball in the top left-hand corner of the net. The team's remained deadlocked through six kicks, when Bearcats' goalkeeper Jen McEachron made a diving stop and Kerry O'Shaughnessy sent Binghamton to the next round by converting her kick. The Bearcats face second-seeded Boston University on Sunday in the tournament semifinals at 12 p.m. in Boston.
Jen Egan scored in the 79th minute to lift the fourth-seeded Seawolves past fifth-seeded Maine, 2-1, at LaValle Stadium. Brooke Barbuto, a first-team all-conference choice, scored 20 minutes into the game to put Stony Brook on top. Maine came right back to the tie score at 1-1 when Laura Martell found the back of the net. But, Egan scored the game-winner off a cross from Trine Allenberg to give the Seawolves the win. Stony Brook, the No. 4 seed, will take on top-seeded New Hampshire in the other semifinal on Sunday in Durham. The Seawolves handed the Wildcats their only conference loss of the season with a 1-0 victory on October 11.
The America East Championship title game will be played on Saturday, November 10 at the higher remaining seed. The winner of the championship earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament.