Bearcats nip Big Red 2-1

9/12/2012 (Updated 11:05:15 PM)

VESTAL -- Senior forward Sarah Furminger scored the game-winning goal in the 61st minute to lift Binghamton womens soccer (5-1) to a come-from-behind 2-1 win over visiting Cornell (0-5) Wednesday night from the Bearcats Sports Complex.

It was Furmingers fifth goal in five games this season and extended the teams best start to a season since 1996.

On the deciding play, sophomore back Connie Gormley sent a free kick from the center line out to Furminger on the left sideline. The fleet-footed striker deked one defender on the wing, cut toward the middle of the field and raced past another defender running along the edge of the 18-yard box. She loped past yet another Big Red defender before ripping a 20-yard shot into the top left corner past an outstretched Cornell keeper.

The Bearcats secured the win only after a Cornell flurry near the goal in the final two minutes. After a Big Red corner kick and ensuing scramble, junior back Liz Cusato, who had re-entered the game minutes earlier, cleared a ball off the goal line and another Cornell shot went wide of the far post.

We knew tonights game would be a hard-fought match, head coach Sarah McClellan said. We are pleased to get a good result and head into our next game with momentum.

After a scoreless first half, Cornell opened the scoring in the 49th minute. Senior forward Maneesha Chitanvis took a feed from freshman linemate Caroline Growney with her back to the goal, spun to her left and tucked away a low shot to the right side netting from six yards.

But the Bearcats responded less then three minutes later after a corner kick. Senior forward Jamie Holliday sent the kick to the far post and on the scramble, senior midfielder Brittany Walsh chipped the ball back into the middle where sophomore midfielder Emily Nuss struck a left-footer into the lower right corner for the equalizer.

The tandem of junior keepers Carrie Martin and Stephanie Speirs combined for their third shutout of the season with Martin making three saves in the first half and Speirs notching two saves over the final 45 minutes. Martin also has a solo shutout as the Bearcats have blanked four opponents in six games.

Binghamton held a 15-13 edge in shots and the teams combined for 12 corner kicks with Cornell taking seven.

Binghamton hosts St. Bonaventure Friday night before traveling to face FDU Sunday afternoon.

Courtesy: bubearcats.com

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