For Immediate Release: October 30, 2004
Contact: Thomas Moore II (sports@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-2956

Binghamton defeats Northeastern 2-0 to clinch America East regular-season title
BU will carry No. 1 seed into conference tournament, will host final two rounds

Box Score
Photo Gallery
Tournament Pairings

VESTAL, N.Y.--Binghamton (12-5-1, 6-3 AE) scored two goals in the game's final 13:33 to blank visiting Northeastern (11-6-2, 5-3-1 AE) 2-0 in an America East women's soccer game Saturday afternoon at West Gym field. The win, coupled with Stony Brook's 1-0 win over Maine, gave the Bearcats a share of the regular-season conference title, and with the tiebreak advantage, BU has gained the No. 1 seed for the upcoming America East Championship. Binghamton will receive a first-round bye and host the semifinals and final next Friday and Sunday, November 5 and 7.

"I am incredibly proud of our team," head coach Jeff Leightman said. "They gave such a tremendous effort all season. We worked this entire season to have a championship mentality. To be picked to finish eighth and finish in first shows the credit of how hard these girls worked."

Freshman defender Katie Kerrigan (Middletown, N.Y.) broke a scoreless tie at the 76:27 mark when she followed up a corner-kick clearance by sending back a 45-yard ball toward goal. Kerrigan's high delivery banked off the cross bar before dropping down past the goal line.

Just 5:28 later, freshman forward Kim Povill (Massapequa, N.Y.) took a quick feed from sophomore midfielder Kelly Burnham (Endicott, N.Y.) and found the net from 10 yards out. It was seventh goal of the season for Povill, who leads the team with 21 points. Senior forward Tatiana Mathelier (Pomona, N.Y.) was also credited with an assist on the goal.

Sophomore Kristy Bowers (Rochester, N.Y.) made four saves for Binghamton and recorded her fifth shutout of the season.

Binghamton outshot Northeastern 11-8 for the game.

No. 1 Binghamton will host No. 5 Northeastern at 11 a.m. on Friday at West Gym Field in the first semi-final game. In the other semi-final game at 1:30 p.m. on Friday also at West Gym Field, it will be No. 3 New Hampshire vs. No. 2 Maine.