VESTAL, N.Y.- The Lafayette women's lacrosse team traveled to New York to face the Bearcats in the first mid-week contest of the season. The Leopards were defeated by Binghamton for a final score of 18-8, coming after an exciting victory against La Salle (11-9) last weekend.

Binghamton took the first two goals of the contest at 14:04 with a free position shot by Barer and at 10:56 by Murphy. The Leopards snuck in a few shots before Muscolinio fired another successful free position shot for the Bearcats at 8:55.

Sophomore midfielder Clare Culligan was able to put in a beautiful pass from senior attacker Olivia Cunningham right before the first media timeout of the game at 7:27. Culligan matched her season total in goals at 6:18, scoring again assisted by junior attacker Sarah Bennett to put the Leopards within one.

Binghamton wins the draw control and scores their fourth from Barer at 5:01.

Bennett transitions off the clear to score her first of the match at 3:33, assisted by junior attacker Meghan McLachlan. The Bearcats retaliate at 3:05 and sophomore goalkeeper Lexie Coldiron stops their next free position shot.

The second quarter opened with both teams getting a look on goal, but Binghamton scored their sixth at 12:20 from Meli and seventh at 10:40 from Masera.

Draw controls were split until the Bearcats' Muscolino took one straight from the circle at 10:22; she stretched their lead at 8:52 and 8:19 to complete a hat trick.

Binghamton gets their 11^th at 5:38 before Lafayette subs in freshman goalkeeper Molly Terraciano. The Pelham, N.Y. native had split time with Coldiron when the Leopards faced #19 Drexel earlier this season.

Cunningham got her sixth of the season at 2:04 and closed out the first half.

Binghamton scored the first goal of the third period at 12:34 after Lafayette got a shot off from a caused turnover. The Bearcats put back their second of the quarter at 11:04 and third at 8:04 after a save by Terraciano.

The Lafayette defense held strong until Binghamton's Murphy scored her second and third goals of the game at 4:33 and 3:10. The Bearcats closed the period with another goal at 1:47 by Newman.

The final quarter began with a bang from the Leopards; Culligan tallied her third of the game at 13:27, assisted by Bennett. Binghamton retaliated at 12:00 to put the Bearcats up by 13 with just over ten minutes left in play.

The Madison, N.J. native, Culligan, scored her season-high fourth goal of the game at 8:35, assisted by Cunningham before a Bearcat/media timeout.

Lafayette seems to be rejuvenated, as Cunningham adds two more at 6:11 and 5:28, assisted by McLachlan. Two Leopards now lay claim to a hat trick over Binghamton this afternoon, after the Bearcat lead down to 10.

The Maroon and White trailed in shots (31-19), ground balls (15-9), and caused turnovers (11-6), but kept close to Binghamton in clears (14-14 to 13-14).

Lafayette's Coldiron made four saves in the loss, before Terraciano made three with the remainder of the game. Their Binghamton counterpart, Manning, made three.

The Leopards return to Fisher Stadium this Saturday, kicking off the first of four straight home games against Iona at 4 p.m.