FINAL SCORE: Vermont 2, Binghamton 1
VESTAL, N.Y. – The Vermont Catamounts scored twice in a span of 1:47 of the second half to earn a 2-1 victory over Binghamton in Vestal, N.Y. in the regular season finale on Sunday.
 
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With the win UVM earns a spot in the America East Playoffs for the fourth time in head coach Kristi Lefebvre's five seasons at the helm of the Catamounts. Vermont moves to 7-7-2 overall and 4-3-1 in league play. Binghamton closes out its season with a record of 3-12-2 (2-5-1 AE).
 
After a scoreless first half during which UVM held a 7-4 advantage in shots, the Bearcats took a 1-0 lead 10 minutes into the second stanza. Katherine Corcoran drove a low shot from 24 yards out past UVM goalkeeper Ally Ramos for her third goal of the season.
 
Vermont answered quickly. In the 70th minute, Rylee Osgood collected a poor clearance from the Bearcat defense, moved to her right and fired in a shot from just inside the top of the penalty area. The ball glanced off the hands of Binghamton goalkeeper Katie Hatziyianis to give Osgood her fourth goal of the year and knot the game up at 1-1.
 
Just over a minute later Nikki McFarland and Savana Yurick combined at the top of the box. On the end of a give-and-go play, McFarland slotted a shot past Hatziyianis to give the Catamounts a 2-1 lead. It was McFarland's team-leading sixth goal of the season and second game-winning tally of the year.
 
Ramos was credited with seven saves to pick up the victory in the Vermont net, while Hatziyianis made five saves for Binghamton.
 
Vermont will await the results of Sunday's other games around the league to find out its seed and opponent for the America East Playoffs, which begin on October 29 with higher seeds hosting matches.
 
NOTES: Nikki McFarland nets the game-winning goal to propel UVM into the playoffs in her second career game at Binghamton … In 2013 McFarland netted the game-winner in double overtime to lift UVM past the Bearcats in Vestal, New York and into the America East Playoffs … UVM's seven overall wins and four conference victories are the most since 2005.