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Senior midfielder Taylor Kucharski tallied a goal and an assist to lead Binghamton women’s soccer (4-5, 1-0 AE) to a 3-0 victory over Maine (3-4-1, 0-1 AE) in the America East opener for both teams Sept. 25, from Alumni Field in Orono, Maine. The Bearcats scored twice in a 2:12 span midway through the second half to pull away.

Kucharski set up the first goal just 15:17 into the contest. She fed junior forward Jamie Holliday with a thru ball behind the Maine defense and Holliday converted for her first goal of the season.

Then in the 68th minute of the contest, Kucharski knocked in a loose ball to make it 2-0. Freshman center back Connie Gormley completed the scoring just 2:12 later, drilling in a direct kick for her first collegiate goal. Gormley also anchored a back line that registered the team’s fourth shutout of the young season.

“What a great way to start off the conference season with a shutout win on the road,” head coach Sarah McClellan said. “We competed very well in the second half and were able to manage the pressure they threw at us and put it away with the two goals.”

The three points awarded for the win could wind up being pivotal for the Bearcats, who missed a playoff berth by just one point in 2010.