The University of Maine women’s soccer team will begin defending its America East tournament championship against two-time regular season champion Binghamton University on Sunday at Mahaney Diamond in Orono.
UMaine was chosen to repeat as champion in the coaches’ preseason poll, with the Binghamton Bearcats being picked second.
Binghamton lost to UMass Lowell 2-1 in overtime in the league semifinals a year ago before UMaine beat the River Hawks 3-2 in overtime in the title game.
Each team has lost just one America East regular season game the past two seasons, with Binghamton going 11-1-4 while UMaine was 8-1-7.
UMaine and Binghamton have battled to draws in their last three meetings.
Binghamton overcame a 2-0 deficit to earn a 2-2 tie in Vestal, New York, last year while the previous two games ended 0-0.
UMaine has gone 4-1-2 in its non-conference games while Binghamton has posted a 3-3-2 record.
The Black Bears have scored one goal or less in five of their last six games, but head coach Scott Atherley feels the team is playing well and the goals will come.
“We’ve been very good possessing the ball. We’ve had a lot of great entries into the final third. In some games, our finishing has been very good and in other games we haven’t finished our opportunities,” said Atherley. “The important thing is we’ve generated quality chances and they will eventually fall for us.”
He feels his team has to do a better job scoring off set pieces, noting that they’ve scored just one set-piece goal after notching 13 a year ago.
He said his team has been sound defensively and has limited the opponent’s quality scoring chances.
Opponents have only 20 shots on goal in UMaine’s seven games.
Australian Under-20 goalkeeper Grace Wilson returned from the Under-20 World Cup in Colombia and made five saves in a 1-0 win over Holy Cross in her UMaine debut to earn America East Defensive Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week honors.
But Atherley also pointed out that Jessica Kasacek (3-1-2 record, 0.83 goals-against average) has also played extremely well and he hasn’t decided who will play in Sunday’s noon game.
One of the players who is off to a great start is speedy junior forward Jordane Pinette, whose three goals have all been game-winners. She is tied for ninth in the country in game-winning goals among players from 339 Division I schools.
She had three goals in her first two seasons combined.
She also has an assist this season.
“She has taken her game to another level,” said Atherley. “She worked really hard in the offseason and did a lot of extra sessions on finishing. She is getting herself into better positions, her anticipation is better as is her stamina and she also comes back to win balls for us.”
Lara Kirkby is the team’s leading scorer with eight points on three goals and two assists. Kirkby, Lincolnville’s Kristina Kelly (1 & 4) and Luise Reinwald have anchored a solid and deep midfield.
The Kraemer sisters, Abby (1 & 4) and Kayla (2 & 2), each have six points.
Binghamton has been led by senior forward Hannah Mimas (5 & 4), freshman midfielder Anna Buckwalter (3 & 2) and senior forward Mackenzie Ryder (2 & 1).
“They’re a very formidable opponent. They’re always competitive. They’re organized, athletic and combative,” said Atherley.
In addition to the soccer team, the 4-3 UMaine field hockey team will also be home this weekend for 1 p.m. non-conference games against 0-5 Merrimack on Saturday and 1-4 Stonehill on Sunday.
