For Immediate Release: November 5, 2004
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

No. 1 Binghamton defeats Northeastern 3-0 in America East women's soccer semifinal
BU will play Maine for championship, NCAA tournament berth Sunday at noon

Box Score
Post-game quotes

VESTAL, N.Y.--Binghamton (13-5-1) made a successful debut in the America East women's soccer tournament on Friday, controlling play from start to finish in a 3-0 victory over No. 5 Northeastern (12-8-2) amid frigid weather conditions at West Gym Field. The Bearcats now advance to Sunday's noon championship game, where they will face No. 2 Maine, who blanked No. 3 New Hampshire 2-0 in Friday's other semifinal. The Bearcats edged Maine in Orono, 1-0, back on October 3.

"We knew what we had to do and we did it," head coach Jeff Leightman said. "Victories at this time of the year are all about having a championship mentality. We wanted it more out there today and it's been that way the whole year. We made a commitment to get the job done and now we are just one win away from the NCAA Tournament. I am so proud of our kids."

With game-time temperatures dropping in the low 40s and a strong wind and periodic hail present, the teams competed on Binghamton's practice field, as the adjacent game field had taken too much punishment with recent play and rain.

The Bearcats wasted no time asserting themselves, as sophomore midfielder Kelly Burnham (Endicott, N.Y.) ripped a 16-yard shot through a maze of players into the far corner just 5:30 into the contest for an early 1-0 lead. Moments earlier, senior midfielder Deli Plourde (Clifton Park, N.Y.) hit the post from point-blank range.

Binghamton carried the 1-0 lead into halftime and then extended it 3:26 into the second half when senior forward Tatiana Mathelier (Pomona, N.Y.) netted her team-high eighth goal of the season. Mathelier took a pass from senior midfielder Caitlin O'Shaughnessy (Stony Point, N.Y.) and lofted a shot over Huskies keeper Mariel Wilner for a 2-0 margin.

Sophomore forward Danielle White (Haddon Township, N.J.) completed the scoring with just 2:32 remaining. White took a pass from Plourde and sidestepped a rushing Wilner before depositing the ball into the net.

Sophomore Kristy Bowers (Rochester, N.Y.) made five saves for Binghamton, recording her second straight shutout and sixth of the season.

Binghamton outshot Northeastern 12-6 for the game.

NOTE
Just six days earlier, Binghamton defeated the same Huskies squad 2-0 to clinch a share of the America East regular-season title and top seed for the tournament ... Binghamton will play in a conference championship game for the first time since the 1994 Division III squad lost to Geneseo 3-2 in the SUNYAC title game ... The 13 wins is the most since the 1999 Division II season (13-6-1) ... The team's most wins under head coach Jeff Leightman is 14, set by the 1998 team ... Leightman was named America East Coach of the Year at Thursday evening's banquet ... Mathelier, Plourde and junior defender Meghan Taylor (Campbell Hall, N.Y.) were selected as first team all-conference ... O'Shaughnessy was a second team choice and freshman forward Kim Povill (Massapequa, N.Y.) was named all-rookie and honorable mention.