Box Score Final Score: St. Bonaventure 3, Binghamton 1
Records: St. Bonaventure 4-4-1 | Binghamton 4-5
Location: Marra Athletics Complex – St. Bonaventure, N.Y.
The Short Story: Binghamton never had a chance, or so it seemed Friday night. Buoyed by an energetic home crowd of 1,248 on hand for the first night game in school history, St. Bonaventure scored three first half goals and went on to a 3-1 victory over the Bearcats.
Brittany Charles, Lauren Hill and Molly Curry scored for the Bonnies, who won their second in a row to even their record at 4-4-1.
Charles opened the scoring in just the 3rd minute, sending a curving shot from about 25 yards out past the Binghamton keeper Gaby Gold into the top right corner of the net. Only seven minutes later, Hill made it 2-0 when Charles made a crossing pass that deflected off at least one Bearcat and right to Hill, who slammed it home.
The Bonnies went up 3-0 in the 26th minute when Abby Maiello threaded a pass to her left to Curry, who re-directed the ball along the turf to the lower right corner.
Coach Steve Brdarski's team did allow a goal by Katie O'Neill just 23 seconds after Curry's tally, but tightened their defense from that point.
Inside The Stats / Game Notes:
- Binghamton did have the better of the play and ball control for long stretches of the night. The Bearcats outshot the Bonnies 18-7, including a 13-5 edge in the first half, and had 10 corner kicks to the Bonnies' two.
- Bonnies goalkeeper Christina Sarokon lost the bid for her fifth shutout of the season but was stellar again, making nine saves. She was aided by two Binghamton shots that went off the crossbar.
- Curry's goal was her first of the season. The 2013 All-Conference forward returned to the lineup in the Bonnies' last game, a win over VMI, after missing six games with a hamstring pull.
- While no official record exists, the 1,248 fans is believed to be the biggest crowd ever to see a soccer game, men's or women's, at St. Bonaventure.
- Prior to the match, the newly-renovated field was dedicated the Marra Athletics Complex for donors Tom '80 and Michelle Marra (see related story).
Next Up: The Bonnies will travel to Lowell, Mass., to face UMass-Lowell this Sunday, Sept. 21. Match time is 1:00.
