LOWELL, Mass. — The Stony Brook women's soccer team will defend its America East postseason title in Saturday's championship game.

Kerry Pearson and Alyssa Francese scored two minutes apart in the second half as the Seawolves rallied for a 3-1 win against Vermont in a semifinal on Thursday.

Stony Brook advances to face Binghamton in Saturday's 5 p.m. championship game. The Bearcats ousted host UMass Lowell, 1-0, in Thursday's earlier semifinal.

Against Vermont, Stony Brook surrendered a goal to Frances O'Donnell in the opening minute. And despite dominating play the remainder of the match, it took until the 73rd minute for Pearson's goal to pull the Seawolves even.

Pearson, a freshman from Merrick in Nassau County, tallied the second goal of her collegiate career.

"The feeling of seeing the ball go into the goal was such a relief and helped pump up the team to be able to score two more goals," Pearson said. "We had the momentum the whole game. It was just amazing for our hard work and chances to convert into the win."

Francese, a first-team All-America East selection, then gave the Seawolves the lead in the 75th minute.

"As the game went on, I just felt one was going to go our way," Francese said. "Kerry was able to get us level and give us that little bit of extra energy and momentum. To go ahead, the ball came across and  I was able to get a head on it on frame and have it deflected right back to me to put it in.

"We never dropped off, even after their early goal, and we kept fighting the full 90. It paid off."

Tatum Kauka sealed the semifinal victory with a goal in the 88th minute. It was her first goal since her freshman year in 2018.

Stony Brook outshot Vermont 37-9.

"It was a fantastic job by the players," coach Tobias Bischof said. " We took 37 shots. Our energy was awesome."

Stony Brook topped Binghamton in Vestal, 1-0, on March 14 behind a goal in the 57th minute from Francese and a shutout from Emerson Richmond Burke.