BU women’s soccer lands half dozen on all-conference team

After earning New England Collegiate Conference runner-up honors for the second straight year, Binghamton women’s soccer placed six players on the all-conference team, highlighted by senior forward Jamie Kissel (Pearl River/Nanuet), who was selected to the first team. Kissel, who has scored 19 goals in 18 games this fall, was the lone Bearcat chosen to the first team. She earned the same honor in 1998. During the season, Kissel has established school records for career goals (63), assists (31) and points (157). This season she has five game-winning goals, and has also contributed eight assists.

Sophomore forward Sarah Young (Hopewell Junction/John Jay), who has 13 goals and a school-record 14 assists, was named to the second team, as was junior wing back Samantha Lang (Scarsdale/Scarsdale), whose tenacious defense has helped BU secure seven shutouts and hold opponents to less than two goals per game. Lang has also added one goal and five assists, including a game-winning tally against Kutztown. Senior midfielder Danielle Hummel (Glenmont/Ravena) also was named to the second team after accumulating one goal and six assists in 18 starts.

Junior goalkeeper Kathy Heffron (New Hartford/New Hartford) and sophomore midfielder Libby Roach (Sackets Harbor/Immaculate Heart) were honorable mention picks. Heffron has a 1.70 goals against average in 11 starts, and is a repeat honorable mention choice. Roach has chipped in three goals and four assists.

Binghamton completed its regular season with a 12-5-1 mark, including 7-1 in NECC play. The lone conference defeat came at the hands of six-time NECC champion Franklin Pierce. Of the team’s five losses, four were to nationally-ranked teams (#1 Franklin Pierce, #4 Sonoma State, #16 Lynn, #23 Bloomsburg).

The Bearcats, who were “receiving votes” in last week’s NSCAA poll, are expected to receive one of six ECAC Division II tournament berths, which will be announced Tuesday afternoon. Binghamton could host a first-round game, which would be contested Wednesday.

The entire NECC all-conference team is enclosed, along with Binghamton’s season statistics.