VESTAL, N.Y. – Afonso Pinheiro finished with a goal and an assist, powering Albany (10-7-1, 5-2-0 AE) to a 3-1 win over Binghamton (8-7-2, 3-3-1 AE) in an America East men's soccer game on Wednesday night at the Bearcats Sports Complex. The Bearcats will take the No. 5 seed into the upcoming America East Tournament and will head to No. 4 Stony Brook on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. for a first-round game. Albany, meanwhile, captures its first-ever America East regular-season title.
 
Pinheiro now leads the America East Conference with 11 goals and 26 total points. Against Binghamton, he scored on a breakaway in the 30^th minute, putting the Great Danes up 1-0.
 
In the second half, Phillip Persson made it 2-0 on a blast from 35 yards out in the 49^th minute. Pinheiro then set up the Great Danes' final goal in the 83^rd minute when his initial shot from close range was saved by junior goalkeeper Robert Moewes. The rebound, however, was booted home by Leo Melgar.
 
Freshman forward Karamo Diaby got Binghamton on the board in the 88^th minute when he scored an unassisted goal. It was his first career goal but was too little too late for the Bearcats.
 
"Congratulations to Albany," head coach Paul Marco said. "They are a great team and played well tonight. But we let ourselves down. We played well in the first half but not in the second half."
 
Albany finished with a 10-7 shot advantage.

NOTE: The winner of the Binghamton-Stony Brook first-round game heads to Albany for a semifinal game on Nov. 11 at 7 p.m.