By james art 
VESTAL, New York – 110 minutes of action wasn’t enough to decipher the winner during the America East quarterfinal between the Catamounts and Bearcats, which went to a penalty shootout to decide a winner from Vestal, N.Y. on Sunday night. Binghamton (7-5-5, 4-2-2 AE) advanced to the next round after edging Vermont (8-5-5, 3-4-1 AE) in a shootout, 3-2.
AFFILIATED LINKS
Box Score | Box Score (.pdf)
COACH’S QUOTE
“We all know the history of penalties and how they go and I thought both goaltenders were very good to go into that situation cool and do what they did,” head coach Christy Huizenga said. “As far as the game goes, we’re incredibly proud of the way we played today on both sides of the ball. Kylie and the back line were almost perfect to allow just a few free looks and managed to create a number of great chances including breakaways and a few posts and we thought we were unlucky not to do it in regulation. The group of departing seniors is a group of pure class and has left its mark on the program far beyond the record books in immeasurable ways.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
- In the 15th minute of the game, Vermont almost cashed in on the opening goal when Sidney Remington found space just outside the keeper’s box, firing into the bottom left corner, but Caitlin Williams was there to make the save to keep the game goalless.
- Binghamton came back, seeing its best chance of the first half in the 34th minute when Hannah Mimas broke free in the goalkeeper’s box, firing into the net from close range, but Kylie Carafoli was there to stand tall, making a spectacular one-handed save to keep the Bearcats off the board as both teams went into halftime scoreless, 0-0.
- The second half was filled with opportunities for both programs as we saw Binghamton hit the post on two separate occasions and Laney Ross hit the crossbar in the 81st minute along with numerous breakaway attempts for Vermont, but neither team could finish as a scoreless second frame saw the game continue.
- After two consecutive 10-minute overtimes with solid defensive play from both teams, the game went to penalties.
- Jill Brody and Vanessa Smith each found the back of the net for the Catamounts, driving their shots into the bottom left, but four brilliant saves by Rebecca Kessler were the difference as Binghamton advanced to the America East semifinals.
INSIDE THE BOX RESULT
- Vermont finished the season with an 8-5-5 record, finishing with a .583 winning percentage for the second year in a row. The Catamounts’ five ties tied for the most ties in a single season in program history, last accomplished in 1986 when they went 7-6-5.
- This is the first game of 2018 that Vermont has gone the distance on PK’s.
- Bailey Ayer The 12 goals this season is second all-time in program history, joining Megan Mathes in the record books, who scored 12 goals in a season in 1998.
- Ayer’s 28 points this season are third all-time in program history, the most points scored in a season since 2005 when Amy Cochran scored 25.
- Vermont’s six all-conference selections this season are the most selections since the 2021 championship campaign, when they had nine total selections.
- The Catamounts 30 goal campaign marks the third season in four years recording 30 or more goals in a season. The last time Vermont accomplished the feat was during the 1996-1998 seasons.
- 13 different Catamounts recorded a point during the 2024 season.
For news and updates about the Vermont women’s soccer program, follow @UVMwsoccer on Instagram, X and Facebook and visit UVMathletics.com.
EastRise Credit Union is the current sponsor of Vermont soccer