UAlbany women's lax falls in AE title game to Binghamton

ALBANY, NY (NEWS10) -- The UAlbany women's lacrosse team falls in a heartbreaker to No. 2 Binghamton in the 2024 America East championship game.

Key Stats

• Megan Dineen, Grace McCauley, and Ava Poupard each recorded a hat trick
• Bryar Hogg scored one goal and added two assists
• Mikaela Mooney recorded two assists
• Jaedyn Frink scored her first goal of the season
• Binghamton outdrew UAlbany 18-9, including 8-1 in the second quarter
• UAlbany was called for 32 fouls to Binghamton's 16

Head Coach Katie Thomson: "What an incredible championship game.  Congratulations to Binghamton, it was a great battle.  And we knew it was going to be.  We're really proud of our team for how they fought for every possession, how they had each other's backs, and how they gave it their all.  That's all we can ask for.  We're so proud of their efforts, and I am so proud to be associated with this coaching staff with Taylor, Leah, and Shonly, and with this team and with these seniors who have given everything and all of their heart in full to this program, and to all of our support staff.  I am very, very grateful to be surrounded by amazing people."

How it Happened

• For the 13th-straight season, the University at Albany women's lacrosse program clinched an appearance in the America East championship game.  For the third-straight season, the Great Danes earned hosting privileges for the conference playoffs and title game.  And for the second-straight season, UAlbany's opponent in the America East final was Binghamton.
• In last year's title game, UAlbany outdueled the Bearcats to clinch their third America East title, and first since the 2012 season.  The first half of that game featured four ties and three lead changes, with neither team holding an advantage of more than two goals.  UAlbany went up by as many as four in the second half, but Binghamton clawed back to tie the game at 11, 12, and 13 in the fourth quarter before UAlbany scored the final goal of the game with 2:50 on the clock, after which the defense forced two turnovers to clinch the game.
• This year's regular-season game also took place in Albany and saw the Great Danes claim a two-goal 15-13 victory.  It would be the last game to date that Binghamton would lose.  Katie Pascale recorded another signature game, scoring seven total points on five goals and two assists, with eight draws and three ground balls.  UAlbany's offense outshot Binghamton by 20 42-22 and outdrew Binghamton 19-12.  This game was also tied at halftime, and the Great Danes again led by as many as four in the fourth quarter.  Binghamton was able to close within one late, but the Great Danes' 4-2 advantage in the fourth quarter proved insurmountable for the Bearcats.
• UAlbany dispatched four-seed UMass Lowell in the semifinal round in a 12-11 nailbiter.  The River Hawks, making their first-ever appearance in the America East Tournament, visited Albany for the second time since April 20, when UAlbany claimed the regular-season meeting 10-7, kicking off a three-game stretch in which the Great Danes allowed just two goals after halftime in each game.  Pascale, who suffered her injury early in the regular-season meeting, made her first appearance since the injury, earning the start for UAlbany and recording an assist in the first minute.  The Great Danes trailed the River Hawks 4-2 after one, but scored four-unanswered to start the second and held a 7-5 advantage at halftime.  The River Hawks cut the lead to one three times after the break, including once with 54 seconds remaining in regulation, but never led again.
• Binghamton upended UMBC for the second time in 13 days, first winning by one in overtime in Baltimore to deny the Retrievers a chance at a regular-season title, and then again, by five, in the semifinal round.  UMBC scored three of the final four goals to force overtime but could not overcome the Bearcats in extra time in their regular-season meeting.  In the semifinal, the teams were tied at five mid-way through the second quarter, but Binghamton scored eight of the next 11 goals to claim the victory and earn their second-straight berth into the America East title game.
• Unlike their regular-season meeting, UAlbany jumped out to a big early lead, scoring each of the first five goals, and preventing Binghamton from scoring their first goal until 2:19 remaining in the first quarter.  Each of UAlbany's first six shots were on target, and three of their first five goals came during woman-up advantages.
• Grace McCauley, still recovering from her own injury suffered against UMBC on April 3, scored two of UAlbany's first three goals, with Ava Poupard and Bryar Hogg adding two others.  The Great Dane's run was capped off by Jaedyn Frink with 3:00 left in the first quarter, her first goal of the season.  Mikaela Mooney assisted on two of UAlbany's first five goals, and Emma Weaver assisted on a third.
• All-Conference First Team selection Olivia Muscolio for the Bearcats put her team on the board for the first time 41 seconds after Frink's goal, with Emma Blloshmi scoring again for the Bearcats with 59 seconds remaining in the quarter.  Muscolino's goal was the Bearcats' first shot on goal of the game, ending a drought lasting the opening 12:41.
• UAlbany rebuilt a five-goal lead behind back-to-back scored from Megan Dineen just 60 seconds apart.  Binghamton countered just over four minutes later with a pair of goals just 59 seconds apart. 
• McCauley scored her third goal of the game with 1:38 remaining to put UAlbany ahead 7-3.  Binghamton's Mia Forte scored with 53 seconds remaining, kicking off a stretch of three goals for the Bearcats in 49 seconds to close within one at the break.
• Binghamton's run extended to eight unanswered after shutting out UAlbany 4-0 in the third quarter and opening the fourth with one final score.  Resilient as ever, UAlbany's defense locked down and did not allow Binghamton to score another goal following their 12th with 12:26 left in the fourth quarter.
• Hogg connected with Poupard for Poupard's second of three goals with 11:35 remaining, and Dineen followed, unassisted, just 15 seconds later, to close within two.  But UAlbany's brief surge was ultimately nullified until 1:44 remaining when Hogg found Poupard once again to close within one.
• Binghamton won the ensuing draw, their 18th of the game, but UAlbany forced two turnovers in the final 42 seconds, including one with 24 seconds remaining.  The offense set up and made its push towards goal, but Allie Maloney was unable to get off a clear shot.  Binghamton's Angelina Suau knocked the ball out of Maloney's stick with eight seconds remaining and recovered possession to clinch the first-ever America East title for the Bearcats.
• Poupard, McCauley, and Dineen each finished with three goals, while Hogg scored once and added two assists.  In cage, Grace Cincebox with eight saves, including a number of stops late in the game to keep UAlbany's chances alive.  Binghamton commanded possession on the draw, winning 18 of 27 attempts, and the Bearcats were called for just 16 fouls to UAlbany's 32.

Game Notes

• Megan Dineen, Alexa Driscoll, and Sydney Smith were named to the America East All-Tournament Team.
• Sunday's victory was the first in 26 meetings in the series for Binghamton.
• Katie Pascale finishes her illustrious career with several UAlbany records, including 307 career points and 144 career assists over 71 games played. 

UAlbany's 2024 season has ended, and with, the careers of one of the most decorated senior classes in program history.