ORONO, Maine — The two teams picked atop the preseason America East coaches poll, defending league tournament champ University of Maine and two-time regular season titlist Binghamton, had tied in their last three meetings, including a 2-2 game a year ago.
But in Sunday afternoon’s conference opener, the Black Bears received goals from the Kraemer sisters, Abby and Kayla, and posted a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Mahaney Diamond.
Second team All-American and 2023 America East Striker of the Year Abby Kraemer converted a penalty kick 6:03 into the game to snap a six-game goalless drought, and Kayla Kraemer scored what proved to be the game-winner with 8:53 remaining.
Freshman Jahkaya Davis scored for Binghamton with 6:46 left, but the Black Bears survived some anxious moments to improve to 5-1-2 overall and extend their unbeaten streak against Binghamton to five games (2-0-3).
Binghamton is now 3-4-2 overall.
UMaine graduate student goalkeeper Jessica Kasacek finished with four saves on eight Binghamton shot attempts while Binghamton senior Kaitlyn Williams had two saves on nine UMaine attempts.
It was a contrast in styles as the Black Bears play a possession game and pressure teams all over the field while the Bearcats are more direct and launch a lot of high balls into the attacking third.
UMaine had the lion’s share of possession and won the majority of the 50-50 balls, but the Bearcats defended well and didn’t allow the Black Bears many high-percentage chances.
UMaine was also exceptional in the back, limiting the visitors to few good opportunities.
“We did well killing their game and trying to play our style,” said UMaine graduate student Kristina Kelly from Lincolnville, the tireless midfielder who was immense at both ends of the field.
“It was a little messier than we wanted it to be. The ball was in the air a lot more than we wanted. But, at the end of the day, we got the win. We kept playing together the entire time. It was a good start,” added Kelly, who rarely lost a battle for the ball.
“We knew Binghamton was going to be a tough opponent,” said Kayla Kraemer. “But we’ve been really working on our pressing game. Our game is about keeping possession and moving the opposing team around and we did a good job of it.”
Abby Kraemer gave UMaine the lead after Williams made a terrific save off her powerful shot. The ball bounced off Williams’ hands onto the arm of a teammate resulting in a handball call.
Abby Kraemer calmly converted from the penalty spot with a rising shot to the left of Williams, who had no chance. It was her second goal of the season.
“It’s a good way to get the monkey off my back,” said Abby Kraemer, a 13-goal scorer last season. “This was a great team win. Binghamton is a hard team to play against.”
West Virginia transfer Kasacek preserved the lead with a great save off Davis’ forceful left-footed strike from the top of the penalty area later in the first half.
The shot was labeled for the upper far side corner but Kasacek dove full-stretch to make the stop.
“I saw the ball, went for it and hoped for the best. I got my finger on it,” said Kasacek.
Binghamton center back Brooke Herber kept the Bearcats within a goal early in the second half with a crucial clearance after Jordane Pinette maneuvered around Williams and put the ball across the face of an unguarded goal.
Kayla Kramer notched her third goal of the season and third in three games off a pass from Pinette, who used her quickness to beat a defender to the end line before sending a low cross to the near post.
“Jo has been doing a great job with her crosses,” said Kayla Kraemer. “I saw her going down the line, I knew where she was going to place it and I flicked it with my left foot.”
Kraemer steered the ball inside the post from point-blank range.
Junior Pinette has now figured in four of UMaine’s five game-winning goals with three goals and an assist.
That appeared to sew up the win because the Black Bears had gained a solid foothold on the game in the second half.
But the Bearcats capitalized on a mix-up between Kasacek and her backs which allowed Davis to notch her second goal of the season with a shot into an open net from the right side.
The Bearcats floated some balls into the penalty area including a few off free kicks but either Kasacek got to them or the Black Bears cleared them out of danger.
“We knew Maine was going to be an extremely good opponent,” said Binghamton coach Neel Bhattacharjee. “They’re going to be one of the teams at the top of the conference again.
“At the end of the day, it was a fair result. It was a typical America East game. It came down to a couple of key moments and it was a one-goal game.”
UMaine coach Scott Atherley said his team did a “really good job using the spaces they gave us. We got a lot of dangerous entries into the final third and we finished two of them which is great. The penalty kick was the result of a dangerous entry.”
He praised sophomore midfielder Victoria Dungey for coming off the bench and “really lifting us” and Kelly for winning “every second ball.
“The two of them really gave us that edge and Jordane Pinette was fantastic,” he said.
UMaine, winner of three straight, will travel to Vermont for an 11 a.m. Sunday league game.
Binghamton will entertain New Hampshire at 1 p.m. Sunday.
