NOVEMBER 5, 2016
 
Thank You
 
Of the 70+ posts we have done this season, this one is the toughest.
 
The Bearcats finished the 2016 campaign with a 7-6-6 record. They now have two consecutive winning seasons.
 
Binghamton's RPI is currently No. 58 out of 206 NCAA Division I programs. It was ranked No. 10 in the NSCAA East Region poll for a pair of weeks this year.
 
The Bearcats tied a pair of nationally-ranked squads this season, including UMass Lowell on the road.
 
Along the way, the Bearcats kept up their stellar academic reputation in the classroom, with the NSCAA's team academic award.
 
Simply put, there is a lot to be proud of with the Binghamton men's soccer program.
 
This is our ninth consecutive year doing the Men's Soccer Daily Update and it continues to be a pleasure to pass along the updates of the Bearcats to you.
 
We'd like to thank head coach Paul Marco for all of the access he gave us to the program this year. A special thanks as well to all of the players, who graciously spoke with us after training sessions and matches.
 
Finally, thank you to all of you readers out there. Each year, we determine if the Men's Soccer Daily Update has enough of a following to continue it. Once again, the numbers have been fantastic.
 
One final note – at the start of the year, I dedicated the Men's Soccer Daily Update to the late Tom Marr. He was the Baltimore Orioles broadcaster from 1979-86 and was the first media member that I met. I continue to hope that I have shown the same level of class and professionalism as he did over the years.
 
Sincerely,
 
David O'Brian
Associate Sports Information Director
Binghamton University
 



NOVEMBER 4, 2016

On to Burlington

The Bearcats left on the bus for Vermont this morning. With that in mind, here are some final preview links:

Head coach Paul Marco did his interview with WNBF Morning Show from the bus. Click here for the complete broadcast.

Following training yesterday, Coach Marco and sophomore midfielder Harrison Weilbacher previewed the match. Click here for the video.

This Day in Binghamton Bearcats' History: November 4, 2006

Hard to believe it's been 10 years since this one --- in the final game ever played at the West Gym Field, Binghamton beat Vermont 1-0 on a penalty kick in overtime by Barry Neville to win the America East title.

We've caught up with several members of that team over the past few months. Here is what Brendan McGovern had to say about that winning goal.

"The feeling among the boys as (Barry Neville) stepped up to take the penalty kick in overtime of the championship game, basically summed up the season: there was never any doubt. At one point in the season we were probably the most confident 1-5 team in the country. We never doubted our talents and never questioned our commitment to each other and our common goal. So as he stepped towards the ball and was about to strike it, we all took our first steps onto the field to celebrate with him, because there was never any doubt that the goal was going to be scored, and our common goal was going to be achieved. It was truly a pleasure to be a part of such a special team and a special season."

With that in mind, it's on to another matchup against the Catamounts in the America East Tournament --- 10 years and 1 day later.

Posted November 4, 2016 at 1 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




NOVEMBER 3, 2016

Top 5 List: Quarterfinal Games

The men's soccer team was back on the field training at the Bearcats Sports Complex today. The squad leaves bright and early tomorrow for Vermont.

We'll look ahead to the match against the Catamounts tomorrow but now it's time to look back at the past conference quarterfinal games Binghamton has played. It's time, once again, for a Top 5 List.

5. 2008
Binghamton 3, New Hampshire 1

Cameron Keith finished with a goal and two assists as the Bearcats advanced to the semifinals at Albany.

4. 2005
Binghamton 1, Boston Univ. 1
Bearcats win PK shootout 5-4

In a rematch of the 2004 finals, Ryan Bertoni was the difference in the penalty kick shootout. He stopped the Terriers' second attempt and the Bearcats did not miss on any of their five shots.

3. 2014
Binghamton 1, Stony Brook 1
Bearcats win PK shootout 4-3

In the first-ever penalty kick shootout at the Bearcats Sports Complex, Robert Moewes stopped three of the Seavolves' six attempts. Bret Celeste, meanwhile, netted the game-winner in the bottom of the sixth frame.

2. 2004
Binghamton 0, New Hampshire 0
Bearcats win PK shootout 3-2

This game will always be remembered for Stefan Gonet. With the shootout tied at 2-2, Gonet scored in the top of the fifth frame and then made the stop in the bottom of the round.

1. 2015
Binghamton 3, Stony Brook 2 (OT)

In the Bearcats' greatest postseason comeback of their Division I era, they rallied from a two-goal deficit in the final 13 minutes of regulation.

Pascal Trappe then clinched the victory in the first sudden-death overtime period.

This Day in Binghamton Men's Soccer History: November 3, 2007

In a downpour at Stony Brook, Barry Neville's free kick in the 42nd minute led the Bearcats to a 1-0 win and their second straight America East regular-season title.

How close were the standings that year? Binghamton had a 5-3-0 record….and finished first.

Up Next

We'll get back to 2016 tomorrow….

Posted on November 3, 2016 at 3 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




NOVEMBER 2, 2016

Bearcats By The Numbers

Binghamton heads up to Albany tonight for the regular-season finale. It could mark the first of several consecutive road games, with the playoffs starting on Saturday.

Not to worry.

Since the start of the 2015 America East Tournament, Binghamton is 6-1-3 in its past 10 road games. This includes a pair of win in the conference tournament last year and a pair of ties against nationally-ranked opponents this season.
In its past two road games, Binghamton won 1-0 at UMBC on Oct. 12 and 2-1 at Hofstra on Oct. 25.

So what's been the key?

"It doesn't really matter where we are playing for this group of guys," head coach Paul Marco said. "We love to play at home but when we do go on the road, we can have a little more focus and a little less distraction. We have a young team so it's great to see that their level of passion has stayed the same both home and away."

Continuing with our numbers, Binghamton is the second-best defensive team in the America East, with a 0.93 goals against average. The Bearcats are also tied for first with seven shutouts and ranked No. 36 in the nation with 0.41 shutouts per game.

"Going into the season, I thought we would be very good defensively," Marco said. "I knew we had three capable goalkeepers coming in and our back four has been terrific. Our midfielders such as Florian Orth, Conrad Nowowiejski and Isaiah Barrett have all done very well as the holding midfield positions."

Trick Or Treat?

When he wasn't preparing for Albany, Coach Marco was home on Monday night for Halloween. His children were out trick-or-treating, but he made sure that he got some of the candy.

"I get to crush all of the peanut butter candy, so I got to have all of the Snickers and Reeses Peanut Butter cups. I still have a few more to go today."

Speaking Of Eating

Coach Marco was back on Roger's Neel's WNBF Morning Show today to preview the Albany match. Last week, however, the longtime radio host was on a cruise.

We asked Coach Marco if he thought Neel would be able to smuggle some of his favorite Cider Mill donuts onto the ship.

"Perhaps," he said. "But I don't think the donuts made it down to the cruise ship."

Good point.

Click here for the audio of this morning's interview.

Reading List

Click here for the Pipe Dream's recap of the 0-0 tie against Stony Brook on Saturday night.

This Day in Binghamton Men's Soccer History: November 2, 2005

Peter Sgueglia's overtime goal lifted Binghamton to a 1-0 overtime win over Boston University on Senior Day at the old West Gym Field.

The win clinched the No. 3 seed in the America East Tournament for the Bearcats.

The pregame ceremony honored the senior class of Graham Munro, Danilo, Darius Ravangard, Phil Grommett, Luc Vallone, Ryan Pierce and Joe Howe. Of all of the Senior Day I have covered, this was the most emotional.

Five of those guys came to Binghamton along with Coach Marco, before the program was established at the Division I level. Four years later, the program was consistently in the national rankings. Their level of professionalism, success in the classroom and passion for their university was second to none. Over a decade later, they remain one of my favorite group of players in any sport I have covered in my 17 years at Binghamton University.

I was on the field snapping the Senior Day ceremony photos and afterwards – before the match started – Danilo came up to me.

"Thank you for everything you have done for us," he said.

No, Danilo. Thank YOU.

Posted November 2, 2016 at 9:15 a.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




NOVEMBER 1, 2016

Ten Years Later

While the Bearcats are getting ready for their trip to Albany, we take a trip down memory lane to a decade ago today.

In what has to be one of the most dramatic home games in the program's  Division I era, Binghamton outlasted Boston University in penalty kicks in an America East semifinal game at the West Gym Field. While the ensuing title game win over Vermont was more significant in the grand scheme of things, the drama of the semifinals was unmatched.

Things looks grim for the Bearcats for much of the game. Boston scored a goal midway through the first half and began to pack it in defensively. Only a first-class goal could tie the game.
In the 80th minute, that is just what happened.

From near the midfield line, where our scorer's table was set up, Cody Germain fired a long cross towards the goal. Joey Neilson was waiting and redirected the ball into the net. The crowd at West Gym Field, which had been quiet for most of the game, erupted.

Following two scoreless overtime periods, it was on to penalty kicks.

It was the third year in a row that Binghamton and Boston had gone to a shootout. The Terriers won 5-4 in the 2004 finals but the Bearcats got even with a 5-4 win in the quarterfinals the following year.

Before the penalty kick around, Binghamton head coach Paul Marco and Boston coach Neil Roberts both looked at each other and shared a laugh.

"We knew this would happen again," one of them said.

Once the shootout began, each team made their first five shots. It was on to the sixth frame.

Kyle Kucharski, a freshman who entered the year as a backup, converted his shot in the top of the sixth frame. That left it up to Jason Stenta, the redshirt freshman goalkeeper. If he stopped the Terriers' attempt, the Bearcats would win. If not, it was on to a seventh frame.

I was on the field keeping track of the shooters, right in front of the Binghamton bench. Before the Terriers' sixth shot, I heard a voice calling my name.

"David!"

I turned about to see Kyle Antos, the team captain. He was perched on the sidelines, ready to charge out onto the field. He had a huge grin on his face, like he knew what the outcome was going to be.

"Get out of my way," he said.

I honored his request.

Sure enough, the ball was hit to Stenta's right and he jumped high enough to bat the ball away. Antos and the rest of the team charged the field, as did most of the fans at the West Gym Field.

Binghamton was on to the finals for the fourth straight year.

The media coverage was huge, with every TV station, the Press & Sun Bulletin and Pipe Dream all in attendance. The Pipe Dream named Stenta's save as the top Binghamton sports moment of the year. That Christmas, WBNG put together a year-end video of all of the local teams' clips. Stenta's save made the cut.

While we continue to keep the focus on this season, it is hard not to look back at a significant date on the program's history.

There is plenty of soccer still left this year and who knows—maybe another penalty kick shootout.

This Day in Binghamton Men's Soccer History: November 1, 2006.

Need we say more?

Posted November 1, 2016 at 10 a.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




OCTOBER 31, 2016

Some Quick Numbers

Before we head into the final part of the regular season, a few quick numbers to go over:

1. Binghamton's RPI is up to No. 58 out of 206 Division I programs. Beating No. 25 Hofstra and tying No. 41 Stony Brook will do that.

2. Since 2002, Binghamton is now  9-1-5 on Senior Day.

Social Media Update

Click here for the photos from Saturday's Senior Day ceremony on our Athletic Department Facebook site. 

This Day In Binghamton Men's Soccer History: October 31, 2009

Speaking of Senior Day games, the Bearcats beat UMBC 4-0 on Senior Day. An hour later, they stuck around the Events Center to welcome home the men's cross country teamafter it won the America East title earlier in the day at Vermont.

Posted October 31, 2016 at 4:30 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




OCTOBER 28, 2016

Weekend Preview

It's on to Senior Day against Stony Brook on Saturday night.

If the past is any indication, the match might not be decided in 90 minutes.

Last year, the Seawolves defeated the visiting Bearcats 2-1 in overtime on Oct. 30. One week later, however, the Bearcats returned to Long Island and won an America East quarterfinal game 3-2, also in overtime.

Binghamton and Stony Brook have not only met in the playoffs the past two years but Stony Brook has also been Binghamton's Senior Day opponent twice in three seasons.

Simply put, what Vermont has been to Homecoming Weekend at the Bearcats Sports Complex, Stony Brook appears to have become for Senior Day.

If you have yet to read it, click here for our match preview.

What Would It Mean?

For the underclassmen on the squad, a win on Senior Day means a lot as well. The Bearcats have appreciated their graduating players and want to send them out appropriately on Saturday night.

"We definitely want to win for our seniors," Isaiah Barrett said. "I have known them for three years and seen how much they have done for the team. We have worked very hard this year and want to get a good result on Saturday."

Reading List

Click here for the Pipe Dream's recap of the win at Hofstra.

Let's Go To The Video Tape

Kudos to John Johnson of Time Warner Cable News for coming out to a cold and rainy training session yesterday to preview Saturday's match.

Click here for his coverage.

And nice touch to Time Warner Cable News Sports Director Mark Larson for referring to the Bearcats as "Team Balboa" given the conditions they trained in. Sly Stallone would be proud.

Worth Noting

While Johnson and the Pipe Dream both braved the elements on Thursday, WNBF's Roger Neel continues to be on vacation this week. So the radio interviews are on hold until the Albany match.

We won't divulge the details but Neel is on a cruise in a warmer destination. Perhaps he smuggled some of his favorite Cider Mill Donuts through customs to tie him over during his week away.

Up Next

A complete recap on Monday.

Posted October 28, 2016 at 3 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




OCOTBER 27, 2016

TOP 5 List: Senior Day Games

With the men's soccer team's annual Senior Day Game two days away, it's to go over our latest top 5 list. Appropriately, it includes the program's most prominent Senior Day games. These games all took place during the current Division I era.

5. 2002

The first season under head coach Paul Marco produced the senior class of Stephen Neumann, Keith Augeri, George Loebrich and Stephen Rybak. Still, it was a freshman – Graham Munro – who sank a pair of penalty kicks in the Bearcats' 3-1 win over Stony Brook.

4. 2011

It was a rough senior year for Ryan Walter, Santigui Tounkara, Jerome Robinson and Adam Santiago as the Bearcats missed out on the America East Tournament. But a 5-1 win over regular-season champion Boston University was the perfect way to exit the playing field.

3. 2015

The senior class of Pascal Trappe, Robert Moewes, Connor Nealis and Bret Celeste were honored before a 2-1 win over defending America East champion UMBC. Trappe helped his own cause by converting a penalty kick in the second half.
 
4. 2006

The class of Joey Nielson, Bryan Arnault, Ibrahim Yusuf and Pete Sgueglia took part in the final Senior Day game at the old West Gym Field. It was a 0-0 tie over Vermont that locked up the first of two straight regular-season titles.
Two weeks later, Binghamton hosted Vermont in the America East finals and won 1-0 in overtime.

1. 2005

The class of Graham Munro, Danilo, Darius Ravangard, Joe Howe, Ryan Pierce, Luc Vallone and Phil Grommet is perhaps the most decorated group in the program's Division I history. They got sent off with a 1-0 overtime win over Boston University.

The Bearcats reward? Getting to host Boston the following week in the quarterfinals. It's a game they'd win in penalty kicks.

For the record, Binghamton is 9-1-4 in its 14 previous Senior Day games.

We'll see where Saturday's game ranks afterwards.

This Day in Binghamton Men's Soccer History: October 27, 2007

Fittingly enough, it's a Senior Day game that happened nine years ago today that falls on this date.

Cameron Keith had a goal and an assist in Binghamton's 3-0 win over Albany.

The seniors on that year's team included Adam Chavez, J.P. Ahoua and Matt Narode.

Posted October 27, 2016 at 3:15 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




OCTOBER 26, 2016

All's Quiet in Vestal

As we mentioned yesterday, the Binghamton men's soccer team chose to train Sunday morning -- right after its tough loss to Vermont.

When we walked by head coach Paul Marco's office this today, we asked jokingly if the team opted to train this morning -- after its win at Hofstra.

"No chance," he said.

We'll be out at training Thursday -- when the team will definitely be back at it.

Thoughts from the Bus, Part 2

Here are some thoughts from sophomore back Kevin Flesch about the win at Hofstra last night:

"We knew we had the quality to win games like that so we stayed confident. Even after the the goal we conceded we kept playing our style and eventually got the goals back."

Social Media Update

We got a call last night from a former Binghamton student, Jonathan Heisler. He interned under Binghamton University photographer Jonathan Cohen -- who is one on the hardest-working professionals we've known.

Turns out Jonathan Heisler was in Long Island last night and wanted to know if we'd like him to shoot some photos.

Click here for this shot of his on our Binghamton Athletics Facebook page.

Many thanks to Jonathan Heisler for taking the time to be a guest photographer last night.

Going AWOL?

Last night, we told Coach Marco that one of the reasons the team won at Hofstra was because Roger Neel of WNBF was on vacation this week. As a result, Coach Marco has not gone on the air to do interviews this week.

"We've played pretty good after we've talked with him too," he laughed.

Not to worry, Roger will be back from vacation next week, just in time for the playoff drive.

This Day in Binghamton Men's Soccer History: October 26, 2013

Why is a 0-0 tie being mentioned here? Because it came against seventh-ranked UMBC at the Bearcats Sports Complex. It marked the Bearcats' first-ever tie against a Top-10 team.

Posted October 26, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




OCTOBER 25, 2016
 
Bouncing Back On Long Island
 
Wow!
 
That's the first word we said to head coach Paul Marco during our post-game interview with him tonight. Going on the road and rallying for a 2-1 win against a Hofstra team with a No. 25 RPI in the nation is pretty impressive.
 
The post-match interview following the loss to Vermont on Saturday was quite different. But when the subject turned to the upcoming non-conference game against Hofstra being scheduled so late in the regular season, Coach Marco has an interesting take.
 
"Hofstra is a very good team and we scheduled them this late in the year for a reason," he said. "We need to be sharp against conference teams and Hofstra is a team that can bring out the best in us."
 
Did they ever.
 
Thoughts From the Bus
 
We caught up with the players on the bus ride home from Hofstra. Here is what Co-Captain Charlie Novoth had to say:
 
"After Saturday's game spirits were low. But after deciding to train Sunday and get at it straight away with a great session the boys really worked hard."
 
"Facing lots of adversity within the team, we trained well over the two days between games and expressed lots of passion and heart in the Hofstra game! It was great to see our spirits grow as the game went on. We proved tonight that we can stick together and get a win."
 
Alumni Support
 
We spoke to the Hofstra SID after the game last night who said that not only were the Bearcats good on the field…but had great support in the stands.
 
Keith Augeri, a 2003 alum, was one of those former Bearcats who made the trip. He currently teaches social studies at a high school out on Long Island.

"I thought the boys showed a lot of character in coming back for the win," he said. "Hofstra looked really good in the fist half but we fought back in the second half."
 
Coming Back Strong
 
As recently as a week ago, Conrad Nowowiejski and Logan Roberts were still on the injured list. They had been inactive for the past month.
 
Against Hofstra, they teamed up for the goal that tied the game in the 57th minute.
 
Coming Up Next
 
We'll have much more on the victory on Long Island tomorrow.
 
Posted October 25, 2016 at 11 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




OCTOBER 24, 2016

Wrapping Up and Moving On

A long and busy Monday but here are some final thoughts from this weekend's match against Vermont:

Great to see Logan Roberts back on the field. His speed at getting down the field is a welcome return for the Bearcats. Especially during the stretch run.

On a similar note, it was good to see Connor McKnight back as well. He had one of the best scoring chances of the night against Vermont, with time running out in the first half. Only a splendid save kept the ball out of the net.

A shout out to the 25-30 members of the BU Zoo who braved the elements on Saturday night and were chanting throughout the match.

RPI Update

Binghamton slipped to No. 77 this past week but has a big chance to bounce back at Hofstra on Tuesday night. The Pride is 8-6-1 and has a RPI of No. 25.

Looking Ahead

We are putting together the Senior Day script and while we have yet to finalize details, its impressive to note that four of the five eligible seniors are members of the National College Athlete Honor Society.

This Day in Binghamton Men's Soccer History: October 24, 2009

We mentioned this game on Friday but it's worth brining up again.

Matt Kristek's goal with time running out in regulation lifting Binghamton to a 2-1 win at Vermont. Kristek was named the America East Rookie of the Week the following Monday.

Social Media Update

Click here for the Binghamton Athletic Facebook page's photo of Matt Kristek in honor of his 2009 performance against Vermont. Judging by the comments, looks like we have discovered his nickname within the team.

Posted October 24, 2016 at 8:20 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




OCTOBER 21, 2016

Rivalry Weekend

It's natural to view Albany and Stony Brook as the big rivals for any Binghamton sports team. For the Bearcat men's soccer squad, however, their biggest rival over the past decade arguably has been Vermont.
Since 2006, the Bearcats and Catamounts have taken part in three America East title games and four Homecoming matches at the Bearcats Sports Complex. Vermont has also host Binghamton for its Homecoming in 2013 and 2015.

Need more proof? Check out these epic games of the past

November 4, 2006: Binghamton defeats Vermont 1-0 in the America East finals in the last game ever played at the West Gym Field. Barry Neville scores the game-winning goal on a penalty kick in the first sudden-death period.

November 17, 2007: Vermont wins the America East finals 1-0 at the Bearcats Sports Complex. The first-ever crowd at the facility of over 2,000 fans was on hand to witness that game.

October 18, 2008: In the first-ever sellout at the Bearcats Sports Complex, Cameron Keith's second-half goal propels Binghamton to a 1-0 win. The Homecoming game was aired live by Time Warner Cable Sports.

October 24, 2009: Matt Kristek's goal in the final seconds of regulation leads the Bearcats to a 2-1 win at Vermont.

October 9, 2010: Ryan Walter's first-half goal leads the Bearcats to a 1-0 Homecoming win.

October 13, 2012: Vermont stuns the Homecoming crowd at the Bearcats Sports Complex with a 1-0 double-overtime win on a penalty kick.

October 18, 2014: Lightening strikes twice. Vermont wins 1-0 in double overtime on – you guessed it – a penalty kick. That game also took place in overtime.

October 8, 2015: First-half goals by Logan Roberts and Pascal Trappe lead the Bearcats to a 2-1 at Vermont. It was the Catamounts' Homecoming Weekend.

November 15, 2015: Brian Wright's first-half goal leads Vermont to the America East title over the Bearcats.

So there you have it.

With Vermont heading into the game with a RPI of No. 41 and Binghamton at No. 55, tomorrow night figures to be another pivotal matchup
.
Reading List

Outstanding piece on the Binghamton University website today about Zach Galluzzo and Mike Kubik. The two seniors are also engineering majors and are members of the National College Athlete Honor Society.

Click here for the complete article.

Around the America East

Plenty of scoreboard watching tomorrow night. While Binghamton squares off against Vermont, Albany hosts Stony Brook and Hartford is at UMBC. All there matches start at 7 p.m.

This Day in Binghamton Men's Soccer History: October 21, 2006

Speaking of Binghamton and Vermont, the two squads have played to a pair of ties in their series history.

In the 2006 regular-season finale at the West Gym Field, the Bearcats needed only a tie to clinch the No. 1 seed in the America East Tournament.

They got it done with a 0-0 deadlock.

Social Media Update

Click here for a photo from that 2006 tie on our Binghamton Athletics Facebook Page.

Posted October 21, 2016 at 11:30 a.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




OCTOBER 20, 2016

Making His Mark

When Matty Flax arrived on campus to start his freshman year back in August, he was not quite sure of how he would do in his rookie season. He had competed on some top Academy Teams during high school but the college game proved to be completely different.

"When I came in, I was a little out of sorts because of how fast the college game was," he said. "But every day I seem to be getting more and more comfortable. I just try to be the best player I can be every time I step out on to the field."

Flax is no longer out of sorts. He has appeared in 10 of the Bearcats' 14 games and against UMBC last week, had the assist on Ben Ovetsky's game-winning goal.

The mindset that Flax had when he subbed into the game against the Retrievers in the 70th minute spoke volumes.

"One of the biggest things for me is if I am not starting the game, I am finishing the game," he said. "I knew I couldn't just go into the game and pass the ball around. I knew I needed to be a threatening factor."
That he was.

In the 80th minute against UMBC, Flax lobbed the ball over a defender into the penalty box. Ovetsky finished off the play, creating a celebration Flax won't soon forget.

"It was awesome after Ben scored the goal," he said. "It one of the best moments of my playing career at any level. I won't forget it."

Two months ago, it was advice from the Bearcat upperclassmen that Flax did not forget. By his own admission, he was struggling on the field at first.

"The biggest piece of advice I was given when I first got here was never to take the day off," he said. "You keep pushing to get better. Every step of the way, I keep remembering what (the veterans) told me."

Besides the advice they gave, the veterans also went a long way towards making Flax and his fellow rookies feel at home with the program.

"All of the players were very welcoming when we got here," he said. "It's very easy to get to know the guys."

The veterans have been just as impressed with Flax. Ovetsky, for one, appreciates him for more than just his assist against UMBC.

"Matty has definitely deserved the playing time he has been getting," Ovestky said. "His personality brings out the best in other people and that is all you can ask from anyone. He is very easy to work with."

If there is another area the veterans have helped Flax with, it's been in the classroom.

"I know it's my first semester, but I can't believe how well I've been doing," he said. "Being on this team really helps you do well in the classroom. It's amazing how many guys are always wanting to be in study hall to get ahead. It's no secret why their team GPA is so high."

Like the rest of the Bearcats, Flax has been pleased with the season so far. But he is not satisfied.

"The biggest games of the year are coming up," he said. "We haven't won anything yet. But we have a good team and we are really hungry."

This Day in Binghamton Soccer History: October 20, 2007

Quick, guess the last time there was a hat trick by a Binghamton player.

No, it wasn't Cameron Keith against Cornell in the first-ever game at the Bearcats Sports Complex.

It was Cameron Keith three weeks later in the Bearcats' 5-0 win over Maine at home.

Binghamton scored a pair of goals in 36 seconds and three goals in a span of 1:37 in the first half.

Posted October 20, 2016 at 5 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




OCTOBER 19, 2016

Finding His Role

Much of the success for the Bearcats' defensive accomplishments this year has been attributed to goalkeeper Alejandro Cubillo and the back line of Zach Galluzzo, Charlie Novoth, Kevin Flesch and Stephen McKeena. Deservedly so.

There is another player who has quietly developed into one of the Bearcats' key defensive players – even though he is listed as a midfielder. That would be sophomore Florian Orth.

After several of the shutouts this year, we have asked Coach Marco what other players besides Alejandro and the back four stood out. Orth's name has come up consistently.

So what exactly does Orth do? Often times, it's to finish what the backline has started. Clear the ball from the defensive end and maintain possession for the Bearcats.

"I don't often win the first ball in the air because they go over me," he said. "It is usually one of the backs but I try to get the second ball and get control of those so we can keep possession."

Orth contributed significantly as a freshman, appearing in 17 games with 13 starts. This season, however, he feels he has grown in more ways than one.

"I feel I have grown a lot both on and off the field," he said. "I know my role in the team and I try help the freshman and lead the team. Individually, I have tried to play my part better."

Orth's improvement has been seen by others, especially head coach Paul Marco.

"Florian is perhaps one of our most improved player this year," head coach Paul Marco said. "He was pretty good last year as a freshman and played in a lot of games. But right now, he is becoming part of the heart of our team. He understands his role and has embraced it terrifically. He is improving every day and helping players around him get better."

In August 2015, Orth arrived on campus from Munich, Germany, not sure what to expect. He was thousands of miles from home but found a team that he has come to regard as family.

"It was really great when I came here because I wasn't sure what to expect," he said. "It was good to have a few other Germans when I got here. The team was so welcoming and made it so much easier for me. I didn't feel homesick at all."

With his place on the field and within the program solidified, Orth has been committed this year to helping the freshman feel just as welcome.

"Florian can be seen each day interacting with various faces around the team," Marco said. "Our upperclassmen have a long history of looking after the freshman and he has certainly embraced that role."

Another thing Orth has definitely embraced has been balancing his academics and athletics. He was named to the America East Academic Honor Roll as a freshman (3.0 or higher) as well as the Binghamton Athletic Director's Honor Roll both semesters last year (3.3 or higher). He is majoring in business administration.

For Orth, the key to staying on top of his studies has been to stay organized.

"The biggest challenge is to be well organized," he said. "If you have a system of when to do things, you should be fine. I also try to pay attention in class so I won't have to go back and remember things later on."

Besides his individual efforts, Orth attributes his academic success to the culture of the Binghamton Men's Soccer Program. Last year, the entire GPA of the team was a 3.26.

"Our coaches always emphasize that we are here first for academics," he said. "They tell us that if we are good in the classroom it will translate to being good on the field."

Like his teammates, Orth has the goal of celebrating a championship this season. Hailing from Germany, however, he has already experienced the thrill of his home country winning the World Cup. In 2014, the Germany defeated Argentina in the finals.

"That was great," he said. "The entire nation was out celebrating. We didn't even have school the next day because we are a big soccer country. It was definitely a great experience."

When he returned to campus this fall, however, Orth had just watched the Germans lose in the Olympic finals to host Brazil.

"It was a tough game," he said. "It came down to penalty kicks and that's all about nerves and whether you can handle it."

This Day in Binghamton Men's Soccer History: October 19, 2005

Binghamton wins 1-0 at Stony Brook on a first-half goal by Kyle Antos.

One month later, however, the Seawolves avenged that loss by winning the America East title at home against the Bearcats. Like the Olympic final Orth watched this summer, that match also came down to penalty kicks.   




OCTOBER 18, 2016

A Bunch Of Info

The Binghamton men's soccer team got back out on the training field today and we'll catch up with them tomorrow.

In the meantime, here's some other information to go over.

Moving On Up

Binghamton moved up to No. 55 in the RPI rating index following its matches against UMBC and New Hampshire last week. The America East as a conference, meanwhile, moved up to third in the nation.
Click here for the current RPI index.

On a related note, the combined record of the three opponents Binghamton has lost to this season is now 28-7-1. Loyola-Chicago is 10-1-1 with a RPI of fourth, Columbia is 8-2-1 with a RPI of No. 33 and New Hampshire is 10-4-0 with a RPI of No. 41.

Reading List

Click here for the Pipe Dream's recap of the match against New Hampshire

Elsewhere on Campus

Great win for the Binghamton women's soccer team on Senior Day this past Sunday. The 1-0 win was preserved by Katie Hatziyianis making a save on a penalty kick. Click here to view the save on our Facebook site.

The men's soccer team couldn't beat New Hampshire at home but the volleyball team defeated the Wildcats, the three-time defending champions, at home on Friday night. Click here for the recap.

This Day in Binghamton Men's Soccer History: October 18, 2006

Joey Neilson's second-half goal led the Bearcats to a 1-0 win at Albany. The victory lifted the Bearcats into sole possession in the America East.

The goal was made sweeter by the fact that Neilson had yet to score a goal that season. He was known throughout his career as a clutch performer. Neilson would continue to cement that image in the America East Tournament two weeks later.

Posted October 18, 2016 at 4:30 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




OCTOBER 17, 2016

Weekend Wrap Up

We caught up with head coach Paul Marco over the weekend to talk about the Bearcats' hard-fought 2-1 overtime loss against New Hampshire. Here were his thoughts:

"Once the match settled in, I thought our guys were very good on the night. We moved the ball very well and created a few scoring opportunities early."

"We scored on a great free kick in the second half and created some more chances after that."

"We needed to be a little better in managing in the game in the last few minutes. We were doing great until the free kick and then we didn't compete well in overtime. That is probably the only disappointing part of the night."

Looking Back

As tough as Saturday night's loss was, the Bearcats have a history of rallying after heartbreaking defeats.

Last year, the Bearcats lost 3-1 at home to Albany in a game that decided the America East regular-season title. Even worse, Binghamton lost a series of tie-breakers to drop them into the No. 5 spot for the conference tournament.

Binghamton responded by winning 3-2 at Stony Brook in a quarterfinal match and then going on the road to beat the same Albany team 1-0 in the semifinals. In the process, the Bearcats reached the finals for the first time since 2008.

Back on Oct. 5, 2005, the Bearcats lost 1-0 to UMBC at home in the final minute of the second sudden-death overtime session. From there, however, the Bearcats rebounded to advance to the America East finals. Along the way, they dropped only one match the rest of the season. Binghamton won 4-1 at UMBC in the semifinals.

On Sept. 19, 2003, meanwhile, Binghamton allowed two goals in the final four minutes of regulation to lose 2-1 to Marist at home. They did not lose again until the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In addition, the Bearcats allowed only five goals TOTAL the rest of the year.

Around the America East

UMass Lowell and Albany moved out to 3-0-1 with victories over Stony Brook and UMBC respectively. The Seawolves and New Hampshire are now 2-2-0 while the Bearcats and Harford at 1-1-2.

Vermont (1-3-0) visits the Bearcats Sports Complex on Saturday.

On the Menu

The Bearcat soccer families had chicken dumplings to go on Saturday night. Other Wegmans' meals also made an appearance.

This Day in Binghamton Men's Soccer History: October 17, 2015

Would you believe that the first Division I era game played by Binghamton on October 17 was last year?

It was a 0-0 tie at Hartford.

Posted October 17, 2015
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




OCTOBER 14, 2016

Odds and Ends

A bunch of miscellaneous items to go over today as we gear up for New Hampshire.

Post-Game Rush

We caught up with head coach Paul Marco yesterday afternoon to look back at the win over UMBC and preview this weekend's game against New Hampshire. He was obviously delighted with the result but also went on to share details about the end of the trip in Baltimore.

The game went as planned in terms of getting a victory. That was not the case with the post-game plans.

According to Coach Marco, the coaching staff had promised to take the team to a prominent local establishment for their post-game meal if they beat UMBC. The team did their part in getting the win but took too long to get ready afterwards.

"We were trying to get them out of there early but the place closed at 10," he said. "The pressure was on the guys but they took a little longer getting ready than we thought. We'll have to do something after one of our next games to make up for it."

We asked Coach Marco if the local establishments here in Binghamton should be put on notice.

"True," he said with a grin. "That is true."

Click here for the complete interview on our Facebook page

Elsewhere in the America East

It's too early to scoreboard watch, but here is what's on tap this weekend around the rest of the America East.

UMBC is at Albany and Hartford heads to Vermont. Both of those games take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

On Sunday, UMass Lowell heads to Stony Brook for a 2 p.m. game.

Did You Know

Ben Ovetsky's goal with 10 minutes left in the Bearcats' win over UMBC on Wednesday was fairly dramatic. It was, however, the earliest of the four game-winning goals scored in a conference match that night.

- Albany scored with six seconds left against New Hampshire
- UMass Lowell scored in the 86th minute against Vermont
- Stony Brook scored all three of its goals in the final seven minutes of regulation against Hartford.

Reading List

Click here for the Pipe Dream's recap of the win over UMBC.

Social Media Update

Click here for the video of Ben Ovetsky's game-winning goal against UMBC on our Facebook page.

This Day In Binghamton Men's Soccer History: October 14, 2006

Liam Carson's goal in the 80th minute leads the Bearcats to a 1-0 win over Stony Brook at the old West Gym Field. The win avenged the Bearcats' loss to the Seawolves in the previous season's America East finals.

In addition, it was one year ago today that the Bearcats won 2-1 at New Hampshire. Zach Galluzzo and Logan Roberts scored for Binghamton and Harrison Weilbacher assisted on both goals.

The rematch, of course, is tomorrow night.

Final Thought

It was one week ago today that I told you how the men's soccer win over Hartford last year coincided with a crushing baseball playoff loss for my Washington Nationals. 

There is no need to worry about that this Saturday. The Nationals' season ended just after midnight this morning with a heartbreaking loss in the first round of the playoffs against the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Fortunately, the Bearcats' season is still very much alive.

Coming Up Next

A recap of the weekend on Monday.

Posted October 14, 2016 at 9 a.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




OCTOBER 13, 2016
 
Wrap Up From Baltimore
 
The first question we asked Coach Marco on the phone last night elicited a laugh.
 
"Did you guys forget what it was like to only play 90 minutes," we asked.
 
His answer was telling.
 
"That's the first thing the guys said to me afterwards."
 
No complaints here.
 
The Bearcats won their first game at UMBC since 2006, pulling out a 1-0 victory. This comes on the heels of ties at UMass Lowell and against Hartford.
 
Plenty to go over from this one:
 
Thoughts From the Bus
 
We caught up with some of the players on the bus ride back from UMBC to get their thoughts on the victory.
 
Redshirt Junior Back Charlie Novoth
 
"Tonight was a great result in a tough game against a tough opponent! We battled well and fought for every ball. We played great attractive soccer and we were able to open the game up and play our way."

"It was a good finish from Ben Ovetsky who keeps creating chances for himself and finishing well, so hats off to him! I am proud of our teams growth and performances as a whole."
 
Junior midfielder Ben Ovetsky
 
"Great all around team performance from the boys, I am very proud of everyone. We all played their part and because of that we beat a very good UMBC team."
 
A Flair for the Dramatic, Part One
 
In Binghamton's three conference matches, two of their goals have come in the final 10 minutes of regulation. Remember Kevin Flesch's goal against UMass Lowell actually came in the 90th minute.
 
Keep in mind too that the Bearcats had several good scoring chances in the tie against Hartford on Saturday.
 
A Flair for the Dramatic, Part Two
 
Ben Ovetsky has four goals this season. Three of them have been game-winning goals. He sealed two other 1-0 wins against Northern Illinois (Sept. 9) and Bucknell (Sept. 27).
 
He fourth goal led to the tie against Cornell back on Sept. 14.
 
America East Update
 
UMass Lowell and Albany are now 2-0-1 following wins over Vermont (2-1) and New Hampshire (2-1) respectively. Stony Brook, meanwhile, is 2-1-0 following its 3-1 win at Vermont.
 
Binghamton is in sole possession of fourth place but has yet to face Stony Brook or Albany.
 
Binghamton's next two opponents, New Hampshire and Vermont, are both 1-2-0 but were nationally-ranked earlier in the month. Both squads also remain ahead of the Bearcats in the current NSCAA East Region Poll.
 
Click here for the current conference standings, which is sure to change quite a bit over the next three weeks.
 
Social Media Update
 
Click here to go to our Instagram page, which also celebrates the Bearcats' win tonight.
 
A Final Note
 
Not to jinx things but as we mentioned at the top of this post, Binghamton's last win at UMBC was in 2006.
 
The last time Binghamton won the America East title?
 
You guessed it. 2006.
 
We'll move on to New Hampshire in tomorrow's post.
 
Posted October 13, 2016 at 12:00 a.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu
 
 
 
 
OCOTBER 12, 2016

Coming Through

Here's a little-known fact – all four Binghamton starting backs have scored a goal this year.

Last week, we brought that up to one of those starters (who shall remain nameless) and they didn't think we were right.

We then went down the list:

Zach Galluzzo scored against Manhattan
Charlie Novoth scored against Columbia
Stephen McKenna scored against Buffalo
Kevin Flesch scored against UMass Lowell

The player then nodded in agreement.

Flesch's goal, which came with only 27 seconds left in regulation against UMass Lowell on Oct. 1, stands as the biggest goal this year. Still, the sophomore back has been a mainstay on the Bearcats since he arrived in August 2015.

Hailing from Germany, Flesch wanted to go to college and play soccer in the United States. He chose Binghamton because of its academic reputation and soccer program. On top of that, he valued a good relationship with head coach Paul Marco, which developed during the recruiting period.

"The reason for me choosing Binghamton were mostly the good conversations I had with Coach Marco," he said. "I felt that he really wanted to recruit me and from the first conversation on, I had a good feeling. Having a good connection to my coach is very important for myself. But there were several other reasons for me too. I was looking for a generally good academic program which Binghamton University offers. It was vital for me that the school has a good academic reputation as well as a Division l soccer program."

Coming across the globe to begin college can be a daunting task for anyone. Flesch, however, credits the veterans on the men's soccer team for making the transition easier.

"I have to say that Bret Celeste was a huge help for me the first few days I arrived in Binghamton," he said. "We basically spent the entire first week together since I got here a little earlier than the other guys. He picked me up from the airport and let me stay with him until we were able to move in the dorms. I immediately felt welcome, which helped me a lot to assimilate. And then obviously Pascal (Trappe) and Robert (Moewes) were already answering any questions I had prior to my arrival."

On the field, Flesch fit in right away. He landed a starting position in the backfield and was named to the America East's All-Rookie Team in 2015. In the classroom, he was named to the Fall 2015 America East Academic Honor Roll.

"Personally, my freshman year could not have been better," he said. "Right from the beginning, I made great friends on the team. From the soccer side, we improved a lot as a team. Making it to the conference finals -- even though we fell just short -- was a great experience for me. I was happy that I could contribute to the team's success throughout the season."

Flesch is once again a starting back this year but feels that he has improved since his rookie year.

"In my opinion, I have improved in the areas of communication and leadership," he said. "I am trying to help the young guys on and off the field with whatever they have question about. Besides that, I am always trying to improve myself from a soccer point of view."

Each of the starting backs has scored a goal this year but it's keeping balls out of their own net that is their main job. With a 0.92 goals against average, Flesch credits the chemistry in the backfield as a key strength.

"The chemistry between the back four this year is great," he said. "We are all on the same page and we also try to do team drills together. So for instance, when we need to get into a group of four for a drill, we try to get the back four together to help us understand each other better. But the five shutouts we have so far are the result of the great defensive work the whole team puts in."

This Day in Binghamton Men's Soccer History: October 12, 2013

Logan Roberts nets a goal and tallies an assist as Binghamton defeats UMass Lowell 3-0 on Homecoming Weekend. The win will be remembered for Ben Nicholson's iconic backflip after he scored a goal on the opening minutes of the game.

Posted October 12, 2016 at 9:30 a.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu





OCTOBER 11, 2016

Academic Excellence

By now, most of you have read the latest piece of academic news about the men's soccer team. The Bearcats were named a NSCAA All-Academic Team for the 12th time in 14 seasons. Their collective GPA of 3.26 ranked No. 34 out of 206 NCAA Division I programs.

For those of you who are new to the program, Binghamton has had a long history of success in the classroom.

Consider the following:

The men's soccer team has ranked among the top 10 NCAA Division I program in its combined GPA four times in the past 10 academic years.

2005-06 (1): Men's Soccer, 3rd (3.30 GPA)
2006-07 (1): Men's Soccer, 4th (3.26 GPA)
2007-08 (1): Men's Soccer, 1st (3.37 GPA)
2008-09 (1): Men's Soccer, T5th (3.30 GPA)
 
The men's soccer team has posted the top GPA in its sport among America East programs seven times.

2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2011
2015

Binghamton has had 10 NSCAA Scholar All-America selections and 13 Scholar All-Region picks

NSCAA Men's Soccer Scholar All-American (10)
2003 (1): Charles Darkwah
2004 (3): Charles Darkwah, Danilo, Graham Munro
2005 (2): Graham Munro, Danilo
2007 (2): Adam Chavez, Barry Neville
2012 (1): Jake Keegan
2015 (1): Robert Moewes

NSCAA Men's Soccer Scholar All-Region (13)
2003 (1): Charles Darkwah
2004 (3): Charles Darkwah, Danilo, Graham Munro
2005 (4): Graham Munro, Danilo, Darius Ravengard, Bryan Arnault
2007 (2): Adam Chavez, Barry Neville
2012 (1): Jake Keegan
2013 (1): Ben Nicholson
2015 (1): Robert Moewes
 
Binghamton has had 18 America East All-Academic Selections

2005: Graham Munro, Danilo, Matt Narode
2006: Adam Chavez, Matt Narode, Barry Neville, Ibrahim Yusuf
2007: Adam Chavez
2008: Kyle Manscuk
2009: Chris Terry, Andy Tiedt, Scott Zobre
2010: Ryan Walter, Scott Zobre
2011: Ryan Walter
2012: Jake Keegan
2013: Ben Nicholson
2014: Robert Moewes

To tie things up, in 2009, a local station said on its broadcast that the men's soccer team gets things done "the right away."

No arguments here

Reading List

In case you missed it, the NSCAA East Region Poll is out and the Bearcats remain at No. 10 for the second week in a row. Five of the top 10 slots are occupied by America East programs.

Click here for the poll.

It's worth noting that the two teams to have defeated the Bearcats this season have a combined record of 17-3-0. Columbia (7-2-0) moved up a spot to seventh in the East Region while Loyola-Chicago (10-1-0) moves up one spot to No. 13 in the national poll.

Click here for the Pipe Dream's recap of Saturday's match against Hartford

Social Media Update

Click here for a graphic on our instagram site in honor of the Bearcats' stellar academic work this past year.

This Day in Binghamton Men's Soccer History: October 13, 2014

Derrick Ladaerious scores with just under 10 minutes left in regulation, giving the Bearcats a 1-0 win over New Hampshire. The game was moved to the afternoon to accommodate Family Weekend on campus and over 1,000 fans came out to the Bearcats Sports Complex.

The victory put the Bearcats conference record at 2-0-0.

Posted October 11, 2016
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




OCTOBER 10, 2016

Weekend Wrap Up

With Saturday's game going into double overtime, it was actually after midnight that we were able to begin this post. So we decided to punt it until today.

With that in mind, here is the wrap up from the match against Hartford:

A Familiar Combination

Nikkos Psarras has four goals this season, with all of them being scored at home. Three of them have been assisted by Harrison Weilbacher.

If you have not seen it yet, click here for Saturday's goal.

A few other notes on Psarras:

Two of his goals have been scored in the opening 10 minutes of the match.

Since the Stony Brook quarterfinal game last year, Psarras has scored five goals in his last 12 games.

Weilbacher is now tied with Charlie Novoth for the team lead with four assists.

Let's Go To The Video Tape

Click here for Time Warner Cable News' report from the match against Hartford.

Go Figure

The America East Conference continues to get much more competitive and much less predictable. New Hampshire and Vermont, both ranked ahead of Binghamton in the NSCAA East Region, both lost. The Wildcats fell 2-0 to Stony Brook while the Catamount was tripped up by Albany 2-1.

It's been quite the week for the Great Danes, who defeated third-ranked Syracuse 2-1 earlier in the week. Hartford, of course, tied Albany 0-0 last week.

Overall, no team is 2-0-0 in the America East right now.

Gate Check

Despite the rain on Saturday night, the attendance at the Bearcats Sports Complex was 814. For the season, the Bearcats rank fourth in the conference with 859 fans per game.

In addition to the rain on Saturday one of the Bearcats' other previous home games was on a week day.

On The Menu

The rain led to the post game tailgate being another to-go event. Still, the chili that was served up scored some serious points with this blogger.

Elsewhere on Campus

Great win for the Binghamton soccer team yesterday. The Bearcats defeated Maine 2-1 with the game-winning goal coming on a corner kick by Michelle Galvin in the 79th minute. Click here for the highlights and post-game interviews.

This Day In Binghamton Men's Soccer History: October 10, 2007

Justin Leskow scores in the first sudden-death overtime period as Binghamton wins 1-0 over UMBC at the Bearcats Sports Complex.

The win was significant in that it gave the Bearcats home field advantage when the two squads met in the America East semifinals a month later.

Social Media Update

Click here for a celebration shot of Justin Leskow after his game-winning goal in that win over UMBC.

A Final Note

On Friday, I recalled how during the 2014 home game against Hartford, my star-crossed Washington Nationals lost a playoff game in 18 innings to the San Francisco Giants.

The Nationals were scheduled to play the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night but the same rain that we got in Binghamton forced the baseball game in D.C. to be postponed.

So it was a night of ties all the way around.

Posted October 10, 2016
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




OCTOBER 7, 2016

Weekend Preview

With Hartford coming to town tomorrow night, we caught up with head coach Paul Marco and co-captain Charlie Novoth after training on Thursday afternoon. They talked about the game against UMass Lowell, the week since then and looked ahead to this coming weekend.

Click here for our coverage on Facebook Live.

In addition, Coach Marco went on WNBF's morning show today to recap the UMass Lowell game and look ahead to the weekend. Click here for the complete interview.

For a look at tomorrow's game program, click here.

Let's Go To The Video Tape….

Click here for FOX 40's report from Thursday's training session.

Click here for Time Warner Cable News' update from Thursday afternoon.

Reading List

Click here for the Pipe Dream's preview of the Hartford match.

We Were Wrong

On Tuesday, we reported the Bearcats' RPI last year as No. 77. A player approached us after training yesterday and said it was actually No. 66.

We checked the NCAA RPI archives and they were right.

Either way, the current No. 61 RPI is the Bearcats' highest since 2008. But the correct was appreciated, as always.

Iconic Goals

For those of longtime followers out there, you probably remember the 2008 and 2010 games against Hartford at the Bearcats Sports Complex. It featured two of the most memorable goals – and more important --post-game quotes.

To recap:

In 2008, Justin Leskow was in the right place at the right time to score the lone goal of the game. After an initial shot hit the cross bar, the ball came back to Leskow who was standing right on the end line. He had no problem finishing off the play.

But that goal would not have been remembered had it not be for his post-match quote.

"Some may call it a world-class goal. Others may not. But nevertheless, the ball found its way in the back of the net and we won 1-0."

Leskow would go on to be named first-team all-conference that season. We remember him, however, as our most reliable player for quotes.

In 2010, Scott Zobre scored the game-winner in overtime as the Bearcats won 2-1 over Hartford. He finished off a scramble in the box and fired the ball into the net.

In the post-match interview, he described the play as a furnufel in front of the net. That had a reporter openly asking on the air what exactly a furnufel was.

We asked several players about that during our Daily Update post a week later. We got several different versions of what a furnufel was, but all of them identified the person who coined the phrase.

Yup. It was Justin Leskow.

This Day in Binghamton Men's Soccer History: October 7, 2009

In one of the most dramatic finishes in program history, Binghamton defeats Albany 2-1 in overtime at the Bearcats Sports Complex.

In the extra period, Jason Stenta was forced to make a save just to keep the Bearcats in the game. Less than two minutes later, Adam Whitehead converted a 30-yard blast to end the game.

Social Media Update

Click here for our Facebook page's post which mentions that 2-1 win over Albany.

A Personal Note About Hartford at the Bearcats Sports Complex

The last time Binghamton faced Hartford at home, it won 1-0 on a first-half goal by Steven Celeste. The date was October 4, 2014.

But it wasn't all joy for me that night.

You see, I am a long suffering fan of the Washington Capitals (hockey) and Washington Nationals (baseball), two teams who consistently win their divisions during the regular season but lose in the opening rounds of the playoffs. My family back in Maryland has grown used to my despondent e-mails after playoff heartbreaks, which have become an annual routine. 

On that fateful night two years ago, the Nationals blew a ninth-inning lead at home against the San Fransisco Giants and lost 2-1 in 18 innings. That game took place in the divisional round of the playoffs and the Nationals never recovered. They lost the series in four games while the Giants went on to win the World Series. The cruelest part -- Washington had the best record in baseball that year.

Tomorrow night, Hartford returns to the Bearcats Sports Complex and the Nationals are once again hosting a playoff game -- this time against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

So to my star-crossed baseball team in the nation's capital, please make this blogger happy this time around.

In the spirit of the late, great NBC journalist Tim Russert, who always signed off on Meet the Press exhorting his Buffalo Bills when they played games (click here to see what I mean), I sign off with these two words:

Go Nationals.

Up Next

Another late Saturday night post recapping the game against Hartford.

Posted October 7, 2016 at 9:15 a.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




OCTOBER 6, 2016

The Spirit of 2006

It was 10 years ago that the 2006 Binghamton men's soccer team swept both the America East regular-season and tournament championships. That was also the final year that they played at the old West Gym Field.

The very last play in the final game ever on the West Gym Field was Barry Neville's penalty kick in the first sudden-death overtime period to clinch a 1-0 win over Vermont in the America East finals. That play, followed by the crowd storming the field as well as the trophy ceremony was a fitting conclusion to that era.  

It's been a decade and the players from that team have scattered far and wide. Still, they will never forget that season. We caught up with a few of them recently and they shared their thoughts with us.

As they recall, the 2006 title was especially satisfying since Binghamton had lost the 2004 and 2005 finals in penalty kicks. In addition, the Bearcats were 0-3-1 thru their first four matches of 2006 before finding their stride the rest of the way.

Matt Narode, Class of 2008

"Ten years on from winning the America East title, my thoughts on it haven't really changed. The overriding emotion that day (against Vermont) and still today is that of relief. Having been to the previous two finals, giving away late goals in regulation and losing both matches on penalties was heart wrenching."

"Winning the way we did in 2006 was incredibly gratifying. There were no superstars on the team.  We were all solid. We all played our roles. We stepped up when it was needed most.  I don't think anyone questioned our team's ability but finally being able to get over the hump and call ourselves champions was a huge weight off our shoulders. I will always be proud of the achievement and grateful to my teammates and the coaching staff for our collective efforts."

Ibrahim Yusuf, Class of 2007

"We had such a talented team, yet we had a bad start to the season. We turned it around very quickly and next thing you know, we were both regular season and conference playoff champions."

"I look back at that time, and will never forget the contributions of each one of the guys, as they made my senior year the best year of my college career"

The best quote from that year, however, might have been right after the finals. With the Bearcats having been to four straight championship games and having won two titles (2003 being the first time), one of the players was asked by the Pipe Dream student newspaper what they felt about being champions.

"This should have been our fourth straight title," they replied.

We'll try and catch up with more members of that 2006 team in the coming weeks.

This Day In Binghamton Men's Soccer History: October 6, 2007

We are sure Cameron Keith and his teammates remember this night.

In the first Homecoming Game played at the Bearcats Sports Complex, Keith scored twice as the Bearcats rallied for a 2-1 win over Boston University before over 1,700 fans on a rain-soaked night.

To this day, it is still the best game we have witnessed at the Bearcats Sports Complex.

Social Media Update

Check out the celebration following Keith's overtime goal in that win over Boston on our Facebook site today. We have noticed some members of the 2007 squad have already liked it.

Click here to access it.

Posted October 6, 2016 at 10:15 a.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




OCTOBER 5, 2016

Moving On Up

In February 2002, Paul Marco was hired as the men's soccer coach at Binghamton University. According to many of the returning players at that time, he made an immediate impression in his first meeting with the team.

Coming off its first season as a NCAA Division I program, Binghamton had a RPI of 198 out of 200 teams at that level. When Coach Marco met the team, he came armed with that information. He wrote those numbers up on the board and at the other end of the spectrum, he put the number 1.

The challenge was clear to the team – get much closer to the number 1 than the number 200.

Monday's RPI has the Bearcats ranked at No. 61 out of 204 teams. It marks the 10th time since Coach Marco first met the team that Binghamton has been in the upper half of Division I programs – no small feat for a program from a mid-major conference.

A significant portion of the success of the program took place from 2003-08, when the Bearcats advanced to a conference-record six straight America East title games.

2003: No. 49 out of 199
2004: No. 74 out of 198
2005: No. 36 out of 201
2006: No. 81 out of 199
2007: No. 54 out of 202
2008: No. 53 out of 203

Since then, however, Binghamton has posted three more seasons with an RPI in the top half of the Division I teams in the nation.

2009: No. 96 out of 204
2010: No. 80 out of 204
2015: No. 77 out of 206

The 2016 season is halfway over, so it remains to be seen where exactly the Bearcats will finish in terms of RPI ranking. As we know, however, seven out of eight America East programs are also have a RPI in the top 50 percent. So the strength of schedule will remain in Binghamton's favor.

Speaking of Rankings...

As you no doubt have read by now, Binghamton is No. 10 in the NSCAA East Region Poll. On the national scene, meanwhile, the America East continues to be well represented.

Here is where the conference teams appear in the three major polls:

NSCAA: UMass Lowell No. 22, New Hampshire No. 25, Vermont RV
College Soccer News: UMass Lowell No. 23, New Hampshire No. 30, Vermont RV
Top Drawer Soccer: UMass Lowell No. 21

Reading List

Click here for the America East weekly release. Not surprisingly, three out of the four conference games went into double overtime this past weekend.

Social Media Update

Click here for a graphic on our Instagram site detailing the Bearcats' rankings.

Posted October 5, 2016 at 3 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




OCTOBER 4, 2016

Wrap Up From Lowell

We're back.

Thanks for being patient during the three days we were out of town.

It was high drama in the conference opener as the Bearcats tied No. 19 UMass Lowell 1-1 on a goal by Kevin Flesch with 26 seconds left in regulation. The tie was Binghamton's second against a nationally-ranked team this season.

Plenty to go over from this one:

In Their Own Words

Here is what Kevin Flesch and Charlie Novoth had to say about the game-tying goal against UMass Lowell. Novoth crossed the ball to Novoth who headed the ball into the lower-right corner of the net.

Charlie Novoth

"The goal was a great finish from Kevin, rising well and beating the defender to tie the game. With 26 seconds left, it showed our resilience and willingness to keep playing."

The performance was good from the boys. We worked hard for each other and we definitely grew this game."

Kevin Flesch

"I knew it was the last chance we were going to get and I saw Charlie in a good position to cross the ball so I decided to get in the box and luckily enough I was able to convert a great cross to tie the game."

Overall the game was pretty tight and even with chances on both ends of the field. They are not ranked 19th in the country without a reason so they really only needed one chance to get the lead. But we had a good game plan and were well prepared for the challenge against an unbeaten team so overall, we can be content with the tie on the road."

Social Media Update

In case you have not seen it (even though we are sure you have), click here for the game-tying goal on our Facebook site.

So Where Does It Rank?

Believe it or not, there have been two other goals scored during the Bearcats' Division I era that have come later than Flesch's score on Saturday.

On October 24, 2009, Matt Kristek scored the game-winning goal in Binghamton's 2-1 win at Vermont with just 21 seconds to go.

On September 1, 2005, Kyle Antos tied the game with just eight seconds left in the Bearcats' season-opener against Furman.

Never Say Die

Novoth was right about the Bearcats being a resilient group. But this is not the first time that has been on display during the closing minutes of a match.

Remember last year that the Bearcats needed a pair of goals in the final 14 minutes of regulation to force overtime in the America East quarterfinals.

Four Of A Kind

Binghamton's backline of Novoth, Flesch, Zach Galluzzo and Stephen McKenna have teamed up to record five shutouts. Offensively, each one of them has also scored a goal.

Zach Galluzzo vs. Manhattan.
Charlie Novoth vs. Columbia.
Stephen McKenna vs. Buffalo
Kevin Flesch vs. UMass Lowell

It is also worth noting that Flesch is the ninth different Binghamton player to have scored this season. Ben Ovetsky and Nikkos Psarras each have a team-best three goals followed by Miles Burbank's two goals. In addition, Alex Varkatzas and Harrison Weilbacher have also found the back of the net this season.

This Day in Binghamton Men's Soccer History: October 4, 2006

Binghamton defeats Hartford 1-0 at the old West Gym Field on a first-half goal by Peter Sgueglia. The game was delayed over an hour at the half due to lightening in the area.

Sgueglia pulled his shirt over his head after scoring the goal (but did not remove it – so no card was issued), prompting one of the TV reporters to note his "six-minute abs" during the highlights on the news that evening.

Coming Up Next..

More about the current status of the team tomorrow, including the rankings it has received this season.

Posted October 4, 2016 at 2:15 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




SEPTEMBER 30, 2016

Final Notes From Non-Conference Play

Before heading up to UMass Lowell, here are some notes about the men's soccer team through (all but one) of the non-conference games on the schedule.

Binghamton is 5-2-3 in non-conference play, marking the second straight year it heads into America East play with a winning record. In 2015, the Bearcats ended the non-conference portion of its schedule 5-4-1. There is, of course, one more non-conference game to be played this year (Oct. 25 at Hofstra).

The Bearcats are averaging 1.30 goals per game in non-conference games (compared to 1.20 last season) and have improved in goals against average (0.94 this year compared to 1.20 last year). Keep in mind that four of the 10 goals the Bearcats have allowed came against nationally-ranked Loyola Chicago.

Opponent Update

The two teams to have defeated Binghamton this year have a combined record of 11-2-0. Loyola-Chicago remains unbeaten with a 7-0-0 record and is ranked No. 12 in the current NSCAA poll. Columbia, meanwhile, is 4-2-0, having lost a 2-1 double-overtime decision to Fordham since facing the Bearcats.

Conference Update

By now everyone knows about the America East with a RPI ranking of No. 4 among the 24 NCAA Division I conferences. UMass Lowell, Vermont and New Hampshire are all nationally-ranked in at least one of the major polls.

Click here for the NSCAA Top 25 Poll
Click here for the College Soccer News Top 30 Poll
Click here for the Top Drawer Soccer Top 25 Poll

Looking Ahead to the Weekend

Click here for Facebook Live's coverage of Thursday's interviews after training.
Click here for Coach Marco's interview on WNBF with Roger Neel on Friday morning.

The Birthday Toss

Whenever someone within the Binghamton men's soccer program has a birthday, the players toss them in the air three times. It's called the Birthday Toss.

Today is someone's birthday, but with the men's soccer team en route to UMass Lowell, they decided to toss the lucky person last week following the alumni game.

Click here for the video of yours truly getting the Birthday Toss at that time.

We caught up with head coach Paul Marco afterwards to get his reaction on it.

"The alumni who tossed you up must be in the weight room quite a bit because they got you a little higher than normal," he said. "

No comment on how old I am.

This Day In Binghamton Men's Soccer History: September 30, 2008

It wasn't a win but the Bearcats put up a valiant fight before losing 1-0 at eighth-ranked Maryland. The game was suspended for an hour due to lightening at the half. The Terps, who went on to win the NCAA title for the second time in four years, didn't score until late in the second half.

Other than that, the Bearcats have never won on my birthday. They did, however, play to a scoreless tie at St. Bonaventure last year.

Reading List

Click here for the Pipe Dream's recap of the 1-0 win over Bucknell on Tuesday.

Social Media Update

Click here for the video of Ben Ovetsky's game-winning goal on our Facebook site.

Coming Up Next

We are out of town the next few days but will return on Tuesday for a full recap of the weekend.

Posted September 30, 2016 at 10 a.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




SEPTEMBER 29

Getting Into the Game

Redshirt freshman Stephen McKenna's first time in the spotlight at Binghamton came when he scored the final goal in last Saturday's 3-0 Homecoming win over Buffalo. He admitted later that he didn't really have a celebratory dance because he plays primarily in the backfield and wasn't used to the attention.

Since the start of the year, however, McKenna has been a vital part of the program. In addition to being a starting back, he is already a part of the Leadership Group of the team.

That wasn't the case as much last year. McKenna redshirted as a true freshman – a move that was tough for him at first.

"Redshirting last year was tough because as a competitive guy I wanted be out there with my teammates," he said. "But it really helped me mature into the player I am now as well as give me a chance to really focus on improving my game."

In particular, McKenna focused on his speed and technique during the 2015-16 academic year.

"I had the chance to focus on me while most of the other guys were focusing on the team," he said. "It allowed to me to really focus on getting stronger in the weight room. I also worked a lot on my speed of play, as well as my left foot. Coach Marco choosing me to travel to every game last year also helped me get a feel for the demands of the college game."

From the season opener against Canisius, McKenna has held on to a starting spot. He has helped lead the Bearcat backline to five shutouts in the first 10 games. While he is happy to finally be on the field, playing in the backline with co-captains Zach Galluzzo and Charlie Novoth, as well as Kevin Flesch, has been just as fulfilling.

"It has been great playing with those guys," he said. "All of them are really good players with a lot of experience and I try to learn from each and every day.  We have developed a great chemistry as a back line. We really know each other's tendencies and where each other is going to be on the field."

The returning backs, meanwhile, consider McKenna a welcome addition to the lineup.

"He's been a great addition to the defense this year," Novoth said. "His progression has been evident throughout training from last spring. He's a safe player with great confidence and someone that shows great leadership and an excellent attitude towards the game."

The Bearcats have recorded four shutout victories this year but it is the 0-0 tie against George Washington that what McKenna considers the best defensive performance of the year.

"I thought the way the team fought against George Washington was fantastic," he said. "It was a brutally hot day and it took a total team effort to keep the clean sheet against them."

He has only been on campus a little over a year but McKenna feels that being a part of the Bearcat program has helped him grow both on and off the field.

"Being part of the Binghamton program has helped me grow as a player and even maybe more so as a person," he said. "Being around a great group of guys who do the right things all the time has really rubbed off from day one. It has provided me with friends for life. The coaching staff has taught us all lessons we will use not just now but later in life. Coach Marco has instilled an attitude of what's next and really focusing on what our response is to things which I think is extremely important."

This Day in Binghamton Men's Soccer History: September 29, 2007

A red letter day in program history.

In the first men's soccer game ever played at the Bearcats Sports Complex, Cameron Keith recorded a hat trick in leading the Bearcats to a 3-0 win over Cornell before over 1,800 fans.

Keith arrived from Scotland during preseason with great expectations but injuries kept him sidelined until the eighth game of the season. The Cornell win raised the Bearcats record to 7-2-0.

Of course, it was Keith's next game the following week against Boston University on Homecoming Weekend that really christened the facility in the eyes of many observers.

More on that next week.

Social Media Update

Click here for a photo of Keith in that game against Cornell on our Facebook site.

Click here for one final collage from Homecoming Weekend on our Instagram site.

Posted September 29, 2016 at noon
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

Wrapping Up and Catching Up

Binghamton has an off day following its 1-0 win over Bucknell last night. So today, we'll go over some final media recaps from the victory and catch up with some of our alumni.

Let's Go To the Video Tape

Click here for Time Warner Cable News' coverage of the win over Bucknell

Click here for WBNG's coverage.

Better Late Than Never

Here is Coach Marco's interview with Roger Neel prior to the match against Bucknell on WNBF. Neel and Marco looked back to the Homecoming win over Buffalo. They also mentioned how the raspberry pie we brought them from the Cider Mill may have set the tone for the weekend.

Click here for the complete interview. 

Another Bearcat Wedding

One week after Cameron Keith's wedding in Scotland, Tommy Klim (Class of 2012) married Laura Matthews, who was a member of the Binghamton women's lacrosse team, this past weekend.

Chris Hayen and his wife Jen (who played volleyball) were at the event along with fellow alums Matt Ryan, Yusuf Yusuf, Jake Keegan, Matt McCoy, Ryan Walter and Kyle Manscuk.

Thanks to Jen Hayen for giving us the heads up.

From the Colonial Era

From time to time, we receive updates and post relevant information about the Binghamton men's soccer program before it moved up to the NCAA Division I level in 2001.

For those of you unfamiliar with our history, Binghamton had tremendous success in the 20th century. Known then as the Colonials, the program advanced to nine NCAA Division III Tournaments and won six conference titles (SUNYAC). In both 1975 and 1980, the Colonials advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals.

Last year, the 1980 squad was deservedly inducted into the Binghamton Athletic Hall of Fame. They are just the second team in any sport at the university to receive that honor.

Much of the program's success took place in the 1970s and 1980s. Still, there were significant players who played for Binghamton before those golden days.

Longtime head coach Tim Schum has brought us up to speed on Richard Stormsgaard, a member of the 1968-71 men's soccer teams. In 1970, he scored nine goals and tallied six assists – in just 14 games. Stormsgaard led the Colonials to a 10-4-0 record that season.

"One has to understand that to some degree Richard was about a one-man band when it came to our attacking scheme during his time on our team," Schum said. "As a result he took a tremendous beating from our opponents. You only have to look at his junior year (1970) shot total to understand what took place."

Schum has recounted not just Stormsgaard's playing career but his life and career after soccer -- both of which are very impressive.

Click here for the complete update on Richard Stormsgaard. It's definitely worth a read.

As always, we appreciate any updates and recollections from what was a significant period in our program's history.

This Year in Binghamton Men's Soccer History: 1976

Believe it or not, there are no victories on this date during our Division I era…and just one game that was played (ironically, a 1-0 loss at Bucknell in 2005).

So in the spirit of our Division III era, let's flash back 40 years ago and mention the 1976 squad that went 10-5-1 and captured the ECAC championship.

Posted September 28, 2016 at 12:00 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




SEPTEMBER 27, 2016

Bucknell Recap

A trap game if there ever was one.

Binghamton's emotional 3-0 Homecoming win was only 72 hours in the rear view mirror. In four days, the Bearcats will face No. 19 UMass Lowell in their America East opener.

That made tonight's game problematic.

As young as the Bearcats are, however, they kept their composure and grinded out a 1-0 win over a Bucknell team that is better its 2-6-2 record (just ask Boston, who the Bison played to a 1-1 tie this weekend).

For the post-game interviews, click here.

For a photo gallery of the game, click here.

An Great Debut

Head coach Paul Marco has been impressed with all of his goalkeepers this year. So much so that he gave redshirt freshman Chris Shutler his first career start in goal.

The Bearcats figured they could win with him. In the second half, they held on to the victory because of him.

"Chris did an excellent job tonight," Charlie Novoth said. "That double save he had in the second half…what else could we ask for. He has been great in training and hats off to him on the job he did tonight."

When Shutler came to the press conference after the game, he admitted that he lost his voice during the match. But that is the only thing he was missing.

"It was an amazing feeling tonight," he said. "I was just trying to go for the shutout. I kept trying to be vocal and be a commanding presence in goal."

Shutler, for one, credited the Bearcat backline of Novoth, Zach Galluzzo, Kevin Flesch and Stephen McKenna for the team's success against Bucknell.

"The back line played phenomenal," he said. "I don't think I have played with a better back four. They all were compact the last part of the game and got the ball out of our end when they had to."

Working Well Together

Two weeks ago, Ben Ovetsky had mixed emotions at the post-game press conference following the Bearcats' 1-1 tie against Cornell. With the Bearcats struggling with injuries, Ovetsky was being relied on heavily as the top goal scorer.
He did his part, scoring the game-tying goal against the Big Red. The deadlock, however, was a bitter pill to swallow.

Ovetsky was back in the interview area on Tuesday night but under far better circumstances. Not only did he score the winning goal against Bucknell, but the Bearcats had gained some players back from the injured reserve list in the previous week.

Nikkos Psarras returned to the lineup in dramatic fashion against Buffalo on Saturday, scoring a pair of goals. Against Bucknell, he set up Ovetsky's game-winning score.

"It's great to have Nikkos back," Ovetsky said. "We work very well out on the field together and he did a great job setting me up tonight."

On The Menu

A weekday game called for a Wegman's tailgate, complete with subs, pasta salad and (much to the delight of this blogger) the European cookies.

Unlike the weekday tailgate following the draw against Cornell, the players had time to stick around and celebrate the win.

This Day In Binghamton Men's Soccer History: September 27, 2011

Second-half goals by Jerome Robinson and Luke Halberg lifted the Bearcats to a 2-1 win at Syracuse. The goal was Robinson's second in as many games.

In Case You Missed It

The America East has the fourth-highest RPI in the nation, trailing only the ACC, Pac 12 and Big East. In addition to UMass Lowell being ranked in all three polls, Vermont and New Hampshire check in at No. 16 and No. 30 respectively in the College Soccer News Top 30 Poll.

Which makes for a very interesting conference part of the season. The fun starts this coming weekend.

Posted September 27, 2016 at 11:15 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




SEPTEMBER 26, 2016

Homecoming Leftovers

To quote New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, the Bearcats are "on to Bucknell."

We, on the other hand, still have quite a bit to go over from a very successful Homecoming Weekend.

Welcome Back

Six hours before Binghamton faced off against Bucknell, there was another game going on at the Bearcats Sports Complex. Over a dozen men's soccer alumni were competing in a simulated version of the three-team game, which uses just under half the field. In this instance, there was no third team.

Head coach Paul Marco and assistants Bret Celeste and Tommy Moon all joined in the festivities.

"I thought it was terrific," Coach Marco said afterwards. "A lot of guys I hadn't seen in a couple of years were here. Some of them I hadn't seen in a little longer."

The alums arrived before the noon match. They stayed for the tailgate as well as the win over Buffalo and were glad to be back on campus.

"It always a good time to come back," Alan Duff said. "We were a close bunch of guys all four years. It is always worth the trip to come back here."

The current Bearcats came out to watch the alumni match and greet their former teammates. They also offered their opinions on how the alums looked out on the field.

"They look like they are in great shape," Charlie Novoth said. "They all making great plays and it looks like they never left."

"They seem like they were in better shape than they were during their time here," joked Alex Varkatzas. "Looks like some time away has helped them out in some way."

We asked Coach Marco, however, if any of the alums that played would pass the dreaded Beep Test – which is administered each preseason.

"No chance," he said. "After watching them play today—no fitness."

In all seriousness, the current Bearcats were very appreciative to have the alums back on campus.

"It's fantastic to have these guys back," Ben Ovetsky said following the alumni game. "I played with some of these guys my freshman and sophomore years. It's great that they are going to be part of the electric crowd tonight."

Homecoming Speeches

It is always a tradition to have the younger players on the team give inspirational speeches before the Homecoming game. According to Coach Marco, this year's freshman class more than held their own.

"The motivational speeches today were outstanding," he said afterwards. "Probably the best ever. I am very proud of this freshman class. I couldn't be more pleased with how they conducted themselves. They were respectful, very inclusive and most of all, excellent."

Speaking of Homecoming and Alumni….

We heard from Cameron Keith over the weekend. Up until Nikkos Psarras on Saturday night, he was the only Bearcat player to score twice in a Division I era Homecoming Game.

Keith is back in Scotland were he recently got married. Several alums came to the ceremony, including Justin Leskow, who was his best man.

"It was amazing," he said. "It was so nice to have those guys over from the States for the wedding, especially as it was the first time in Scotland for a few of them.  It was an honor to have Justin Leskow as my best man and even better to see him in a kilt – he loved it."

Keith was very pleased with the current Bearcats' win over Buffalo. But he was even happier that we had the two Homecoming games he played in (and scored all of the goals in) remain as our top two Homecoming moments.

"I was glad to see the team picked up a great Homecoming result," he said. "And of course glad to see that 2007 and 2008 still top the list of Homecoming Weekends."

Let's Go To The Video Tape

Click here for Time Warner Cable News' recap of the win over Buffalo.

Nikkos Psarras is the Wells Fargo Advisor's Binghamton Athlete of the Week. Click here for the video announcement. 

Reading List

Click here for a complete recap of Homecoming Weekend on campus, which included three other alumni games and the ninth annual tailgate in the Events Center Parking Lot.

Social Media Update

Click here for the video of Psarras' first goal against Buffalo on our Facebook page. 

Click here for our instagram photo of the 1,801 fans at the Homecoming game on Saturday. 

Click here for a alumni game group photo on the men's soccer Twitter page.

This Day in Binghamton Men's Soccer History: September 26, 2008

Speaking of Cameron Keith, it was his second-half goal that gave the Bearcats a 1-0 win at Cornell eight years ago today. That match will also be remembered for the BU Soccer Hooligans making the trip to Ithaca.

In the previous season, the Bearcats beat Cornell 3-0 at home, with Keith scoring all three goals. That match also featured then BU Soccer Hooligans President Erwin Seguia heckling star Big Red forward Dana Flanders every time he touched the ball.

At Ithaca, Flanders was once again on the field and Seguia picked right up where he left off.

"Hey Flanders," he yelled. "I'm back!"

Coming Up Next

Tomorrow, even we will be on to Bucknell.

A complete recap will be posted late Tuesday evening.

Posted September 26, 2016 at 4:20 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




SEPTEMBER 24, 2016

Homecoming Wrap Up

A 3-0 win before the largest home crowd in four years against a team receiving votes in both major polls has to rank among the most impressive regular-season victories in the Bearcats' Division I era.

Lots to go over with this game:

For the game highlights, click here.

For the photo gallery of the game, click here.

For the postgame interviews, click here.

So Where Does It Rank?

Earlier in the week, we listed our Top 5 Homecoming Games at the Bearcats Sports Complex. Figuring out where tonight's victory ranks is tough. Still, we'll put it down as No. 3, behind the 2007 and 2008 games.

Cameron Keith scored both goals in the 2007 2-1 overtime win over Boston University. He then scored the lone goal in the 2008 win over Vermont before the first sellout in Bearcats Sports Complex history.

So How Does It Feel?

On Thursday, we asked junior forward Ben Ovetsky how it would feel to take that walk across the field on Homecoming night to thank the fans after a victory.

Ovetsky and the rest of the Bearcats got to experience that feeling, which was everything they expected – and more.

"It's a feeling like no other," he said. "The crowd exceeded my expectations tonight. I can speak for the entire team by saying that we really appreciate them. They motivated us to get that win today."

Welcome to the Club

Freshman back Stephen McKenna admits that he doesn't expect a lot of scoring opportunities as a back. Still, he netted his first collegiate goal in the second half against Buffalo.

"It was a surreal moment," he said. "But I was lucky to be in the right place. Ben (Ovetsky) played a great ball and (Isaiah Barrett had a great cross. I couldn't have done it without them."

McKenna didn't have the goal celebrations some of his teammates did. We asked if it was something he planned to work on.

"Being a back, I don't expect a lot of chances," he said. "But I will see what I can do next time."

A Worthy Opponent

Make no mistake, despite the final score, Buffalo proved its mettle against the Bearcats. Even when they was down 3-0, the Bulls kept attacking. This did not surprise Binghamton, who has a great deal of respect for their fellow SUNY school.

"Buffalo's record speaks for itself," Ovetsky said. "They are definitely a tough opponent."

"They have a really good record for a reason," McKenna added. "We expected them to come back because they have been good all year. We expect them to keep winning this year."

Homecoming King 2.0

Cameron Keith is still the undisputed Homecoming King at the Bearcats Sports Complex, with three goals in two games. Nikkos Psarras' two-goal outburst tonight definitely puts him in position to challenge for that title.

Psarras holding up two fingers after his second goal was reminiscent of Keith holding up three fingers following his hat trick against Cornell on Sept. 29, 2007. Click here for the link to our Bearcats Complex historical archives and scroll down to the second page for that iconic photo of Keith.

On the Menu

Homecoming also brings out the best in the tailgate food served up by the men's soccer families. The European Cookies, which used to be a staple at Wegman's, were a much appreciated site on Saturday night following the match.

But it was a pair of dishes served up during the pregame Homecoming Tailgate that topped our list.

Ben Sachs, who was the BU Zoo President the past two years, came back to campus with homemade guacamole. His key ingredient was cayenne pepper.

Ken Bowers, whose daughter Kristy played for the women's team from 2004-07 was back on campus with his signature chili recipe. Unlike Sachs, however, Bowers refused to divulge his key ingredient to us.

One other note….Kristy Bowers is now the men's soccer team's academic advisor.

Coming Up Next

We are not done with our Homecoming coverage. Far from it.

On Monday, we'll go over what was one of the best alumni games we've seen as well as Homecoming speeches that head coach Paul Marco said were outstanding.

Have a good weekend.

Posted September 24, 2016 at 11 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu
 
 


SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

One Year Later…

With the Homecoming Game just one day away, the men's soccer team will hold their tradition of team speeches today after training. Each year, some of the younger players write a speech to pump up their veteran teammates.

Last year, one of the more memorable speech was delivered by Isaiah Barrett. He was in the middle of a medical redshirt season and was unable to suit up for the Homecoming Game. Still, Barrett spoke from the heart and told the team that as disappointed as he was not to play, he was behind the team 100 percent.

Saturday night, however, Barrett will most definitely play. He is back healthy and has been in the starting lineup at midfield.

"It's a fantastic feeling to be back this year," he said. "Last year I was a bit down on myself, especially at the time of the injury. I was bummed out that I couldn't play. This year is going to be different. I know that I am going to go out on the field and give it my all."

Barrett grew up in the Buffalo area and has several connections to the Bulls team. That makes Saturday's match more personal to him.

"I know several of the guys on the team," he said. "There will absolutely be some bragging rights next summer."

For Barrett and the rest of the Bearcats, the six-day break in between the Columbia match and Homecoming Weekend has been valuable in several ways.

"It's been huge," he said. "We have had some tough results but we have had some good training sessions this week and are looking to get back on track."

What Would It Mean?

The Bearcats last Homecoming Game victory was in 2013, when they beat UMass Lowell 3-0. The most memorable part, in the minds of many of those players, was making the traditional walk across the field after the game to thank the fans.

We asked the current players what making a walk across the field after a Homecoming win would mean to them.

"It would be an amazing feeling," junior forward Ben Ovetsky said. "Not just for the fans but for us. We really need this victory against a very good Buffalo team."

Let's Go To The Video Tape….

Click here for FOX 40's preview of the Homecoming Game.

Click here for Time Warner Cable News preview.

Reading List

The Varsity Club tent will be set up during the tailgate. Click here to access their webpage for more information about this alumni organization.

Check out tomorrow's game-day program by clicking here. 

This Day In Binghamton Men's Soccer History: September 23, 2009

In a game that was delayed an hour due to a thunderstorm, Binghamton won 2-0 at Cornell on goals by Andy Teidt and Kyle Kucharski. Jason Stenta also saved a first-half penalty kick.

Last-Minute Advice

In two of the last six Homecoming Games, the Bearcats have scored a goal before much of the crowd came down from the tailgate. Most memorably was Ben Nicholson's goal in the fifth minute against UMass Lowell three years ago, followed by his now famous backflip.

With the Bearcats having also scored twice in the first 10 minutes of the match this season, fans may want to consider arriving at the field on time.

Just saying….

Coming Up Next….

A complete wrap up of Homecoming Weekend very late on Saturday.

Posted September 23, 2016
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu





SEPTEMBER 22

A Week Of Training

Homecoming is just one day away but for the men's soccer team, it's the middle of their six-day break in between matches. Buffalo is coming to town on Saturday but the Bearcats have been focusing on getting better as a team each day this week.

We caught up with the squad after training this afternoon to get their thoughts on the current week.

Head Coach Paul Marco

"We still have one more today left to prepare (for Buffalo) but I thought today was a good session and yesterday was a great day of training. We are seeing a lot of new faces trying to crack into the starting lineup."

Redshirt junior back & co-captain Charlie Novoth

"We feel confident right now. It was tough coming back from Columbia but we had some days off and have had some very good days of training this week. We are looking forward to Homecoming."

Junior forward Ben Ovetsky

"It's been a tough and challenging week of training and I think the boys are really looking forward to this game. Playing on Homecoming is electric. Words can't describe the feeling of all the Bearcat fans and alumni coming out to see us."

Sophomore midfielder Harrison Weilbacher

"Training has been going well this week. We had Monday and Tuesday off to get our legs back and now we are looking to get better for Saturday's match."

Facebook Live: Coach Marco at WNBF

Head coach Paul Marco ventured down to the WNBF Studio for an interview with morning host Roger Neel today. Click here to view it.

It should be noted that the past two Homecoming games, Coach Marco has also gone down to WNBF to preview the match. We have had donuts from the Cider Mill (which they are both huge fans of) for both of them during those interviews. The results of those matches, however, didn't go the Bearcats' away.

So this year, we switched it up and presented raspberry pie – which you can see on the interview. Hopefully, that will do the trick come Saturday night.

This Day in Binghamton Men's Soccer: September 22, 2012

In its final non-conference match of the year, Binghamton recorded a 3-0 road win at Adelphi. The victory avenged the Bearcats' 2-1, last-minute heartbreaking loss to the Panthers on Homecoming the preceding year.

Robbie Hughes, in his first season after transferring from Syracuse, scored a career-high two goals. Jake Keegan netted the other one.

Coming Up Next...

We'll get some thoughts on alumni who have played at the Bearcats Sports Complex and talk to Isaiah Barrett about returning to the field this season.

Posted September 22, 2016 at 4 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




September 21, 2016

Top 5 List: Homecoming Games

It's the first day of fall and Homecoming Weekend is just a few days away. With that in mind, it's time for our list of the Top 5 Homecoming Games at the Bearcats Sports Complex.

There have been nine previous men's soccer Homecoming games, the most recent eight of which have been preceded by the Tailgate at the Events Center. Seven games have been decided by a single goal.
Here we go:

5. October 3, 2009: Binghamton 1, Rhode Island 1

When Maine cut its soccer program before the 2009 season, Binghamton suddenly had an open date for Homecoming Weekend. Fortunately, Rhode Island had an open date as well and proved to be a worthy opponent.

Before a facility-record crowd of 2,604 fans (a record that still stands), as well as a regional television audience, the Bearcats and Rams played to a 1-1 tie.

Jake Keegan tied the game midway through the second half.

The lasting moment from this match, however, came after Kevin Shaw put Rhode Island up 1-0 early in the second half. He went over to the BU Zoo section and took a bow. Definitely the most creative opposing player moment we've seen.

4. October 12, 2013: Binghamton 3, UMass Lowell 0

This match will always be remembered for Ben Nicholson's flip after he buried a free kick in the opening minutes of the game. Later in the second half, Marts Reid-Warden scored a goal and did a dancing tribute to English Premier League star Daniel Sturridge.

Then there was Logan Roberts, who finished that game with a goal and an assist. He would later be named the America East Rookie of the Week.

"People forget about my goal from that game," Roberts later told us. "Ben and Marts definitely had more memorable goal celebrations.

3. October 9, 2010: Binghamton 1, Vermont 0

Ryan Walter's goal early in the first half proved to be enough as Binghamton extended its unbeaten streak to six games.

2. October 18, 2008: Binghamton 1, Vermont 0

This game had everything. The University had its first-ever Homecoming Tailgate as well as the first-ever regionally-televised men's soccer game from the Bearcats Sports Complex.
 
In a rematch of the 2007 America East title game, Binghamton got its revenge against Vermont on a goal from Cameron Keith midway through the second half. With the victory, the Bearcats moved into first place in the conference.

The game also marked the first time the Bearcats Sports Complex was sold out.

1. October 6, 2007: Binghamton 2, Boston Univ. 1

Expect anything different?

In a game that is now legendary in the minds of the Binghamton soccer alums, Cameron Keith's second goal of the game gave the Bearcats a 2-1 overtime win over Boston University.

The night got off to a disastrous start with a steady rainstorm moving the official Bearcats Sports Complex dedication ceremony indoors. By the time the impromptu event was done, the Terriers had scored an early goal to go up 1-0.

Keith, however, saved the night for Binghamton. The postgame celebration in the stands with the fans remains one of the iconic images of Homecoming Weekend.

Come Saturday night, perhaps another Homecoming game will make this list. But it will be very hard pressed to top this one.

This Day In Men's Soccer History: September 21, 2004

Binghamton wins 2-1 at Oneonta, raising its record to 6-0-3 in the process. Earlier in the day, the Bearcats broke into the NSCAA Top 25 Poll with a No. 20 ranking.

Reading List

Nice plug for both the Tailgate and Homecoming game in this piece on the Binghamton University website. Written by junior Allie Young, the article is entitled "10 Events You Must Attend During Homecoming Weekend 2016."

Click here for the complete article.

Social Media Update

The Binghamton University Instagram page also gave a plug for the men's soccer Homecoming Game. Click here to go to it. 

Fittingly enough, the 2004 win over Oneonta is featured on our athletics Facebook page today. Click here to access it. 

Coming Up Next….

We'll head out to the turf tomorrow to check in on the Bearcats' week of training heading into the match against Buffalo.

Posted September 21, 2016
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




SEPTEMBER 20, 2016

Five Years Later

This is Homecoming Week and the anticipation on campus, and within the men's soccer program, is starting to build.

Five years ago, however, it was a much different story. In September 2011, the Binghamton area was ravaged by flooding. With Homecoming Weekend set for Sept. 23-25 of that year, a shadow had been cast over the normally celebratory weekend.

On Tuesday, September 8, 2011, we were out at Maine-Endwell High School for an unusual media request. Tommy Moon, who is now an assistant coach with the Bearcats, was asked to take part in a field goal kicking contest against Time Warner Cable News Anchor Chris Whalen. While the two of them were kicking and a camera man was filming the event, we were in charge of catching the balls after they cleared the goal posts.

For the record, Moon did win the competition. As we left the football field, Whalen told us that the contest would run one of the next few nights.

The following day, September 9, started off innocently. It has been raining during the night but nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. The team trained that afternoon but in the morning, I got a call from my family telling them that water was seeping into our garage. I dropped what I was doing and drove home, thinking I would be back on campus for training in the afternoon.

Was I ever wrong.

Once I got home and straightened out the garage, our power went out. My wife, who runs a daycare, had to close down her business. It was then I heard that two streets over, there was flooding. I walked down the road and saw that it was true.

We were stranded—and would be for the next two days. Our house was high enough that no water got inside. But just two blocks away, it was a much different story.

This had happened just five years earlier, in June 2006. Now lightening had struck twice. The news helicopters were flying over our neighborhood. Our cell phones were powerless without electricity. We had to walk over a mile to get water from the truck stop. The barbeque grill became our oven.

Two days later, I returned to campus which by now was a much different place. The Events Center turned into an emergency stop for flood victims. Many Bearcat sports teams brought food to the families. Training had ceased for those two days.

A week later, the Bearcats were able to host their own in-season invitational against Central Connecticut and Rider. But the flood victims and Red Cross were still very much in the Events Center.

There were questions as to whether the Homecoming Tailgate preceding the Sept. 24 game against Adelphi should be moved. It wasn't until the week of the game that the decision was made to keep it at the Events Center.

By the time the match against Adelphi started, the Binghamton campus and greater community had been through an unforgettable two weeks.

The current Bearcats have this week to prepare for Buffalo. The mood on campus is much different heading into this September.

We'll head out to training the next few days to checking in on the squad.

This Day in Binghamton Men's Soccer History: September 20, 2005

Binghamton improves to 6-1-1 with a 3-0 win over Oneonta at the old West Gym Field.

Reading List

The America East is currently 32-12-10 through the first four weeks of non-conference play. Click here for the current standings and website.

One Final Note

Yesterday we mentioned how Pipe Dream sports editor Orla McCaffrey ran her first half marathon on Sunday morning -- and did quite well. We were told later that by noon, she was in the Bearcats Sports Complex press box covering the women's game against Cornell. She truly does a great job at balancing everything.

Posted September 20, 2016
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




SEPTEMBER 19, 2016
 
Bearcats By The Numbers
 
Binghamton resumes training tomorrow so as a creative way of recapping this weekend, here is "Bearcats By The Numbers"  -- a concept we have done periodically over the years.
 
0-0
 The final score of the NASL match between Jake Keegan's F.C. Edmonton squad and the New York Cosmos on Saturday night. It marked his first trip back to play in New York and was attended by head coach Paul Marco on his way to Columbia.
 
2
 Charlie Novoth is the second Binghamton player to score on a free kick this season. Harrison Weilbacher netted the game-winning goal against Canisius on Aug. 26, also on a free kick.
 
2
 For you history buffs out there, Novoth's goal was the second free kick converted in a match at Columbia. Ben Nicholson also made a free kick against the Lions in 2013.
 
6
 Binghamton is in the midst of a six-day break in between matches – its longest of the season so far.
 
7
 The Bearcat scoring balance continues to be on display. Charlie Novoth is the seventh Binghamton player to score a goal this year.
 
8
 The Bearcats' starting lineup against Columbia featured eight players with either freshman or sophomore eligibility status.
 
10-1-0
 That's the combined record of the team to have beaten Binghamton so far this season. The Lions improved to 4-1-0 with the win on Sunday while No. 15 Loyola-Chicago is now a perfect 6-0-0 with five straight shutout victories.
 
25-21
 In the Bearcats' last two games (Cornell and Columbia) it has outshot its opponents by a combined total of 25-21. Binghamton has held the final shot advantage in each game.
 
Elsewhere on Campus
 
The men's soccer team isn't the only Binghamton squad with a big Homecoming Weekend game coming up. The volleyball team, which has won six out of its last nine matches, hosts Albany on Friday at 7 p.m.
 
Click here for their most recent victory, which took place on Saturday at the Bryant Invitational.
 
This Day in Men's Soccer History: September 19, 2008
 
Binghamton defeats Bucknell 3-1 in its home opener before over 2,000 fans at the Bearcats Sports Complex.
 
That win will be remembered for Ryan Tomko's 40-yard blast that sealed the win for the Bearcats. Binghamton had been clinging to a 2-1 lead late in the second half at the time of his goal.
 
Tomko told us after the match that teammate Yusuf Yusuf had been telling him to trust his shot when he had an open chance. It turned out to be great advice.
 
Kudos
 
On a media note, congratulations go out to Pipe Dream Sports Editor Orla McAfferey. She was the men's soccer beat writer last year.
 
Yesterday, she completed the Dick's Sporting Good's Half Marathon. She told us it was her first half marathon but her time was much better than she was aiming for.
 
This comes just day after she went running with Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger. 
 
We have seen several Pipe Dream writers who have covered the men's soccer team go on to greater things in their career. Evan Drellich (2006 and 2007 beat writer) now covers the Boston Red Sox. Megan Brockett (2010) is now one of the top news writers for the Press & Sun Bulletin and has appeared on some national new shows.
 
We've also seen Binghamton students compete in marathon and half marathons after college – but usually not when they are students. For Orla to balance the editing the Pipe Dream, academics and running a half marathon is definitely impressive.
 
Posted September 19, 2016 at 9 a.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

Odds and Ends

A bunch of miscellaneous items to go over as the men's soccer team gears up for its trip to Columbia.

Weekend Preview

Head coach Paul Marco was on the WNBF Morning Show with Roger Neel today to talk about the trip to Columbia and Jake Keegan's return to New York City. Click here for the complete interview. 

Homecoming Schedule

The Athletic Department has announced its Homecoming Weekend schedule, which includes the men's soccer game against Buffalo at 6 p.m. next Saturday. At noon, the alumni kick around will be held at the Bearcats Sports Complex.

Click here for the list of events

Another Bearcat Wedding

Over in Scotland, several men's soccer alumni gathered for Cameron Keith's wedding last weekend. It marks the third wedding this year, with Brendan McGovern and Chris Terry also getting married earlier in the summer.

Game On!

The Binghamton Athletic Alumni Giving Challenge is currently underway and the men's soccer team is taking part in the event.

For complete details, click here.

This Day in Men's Soccer History: September 16, 2012

Speaking of Jake Keegan, he scored the game-winning goal with one second left in regulation as Binghamton wins the 2012 UNC-Wilmington Tournament with a 3-2 win over the host team.

Keegan hopes to duplicate those heroics tomorrow night when F.C. Edmonton rolls into New York City to play the Cosmos in a key NASL game for both teams.

Coach Marco will be on hand to watch that game before the Bearcats face Columbia on Sunday afternoon.

Click here to go to F.C. Edmonton's Match Center for that game.

Social Media Update

Check out this photo on our Facebook site of Keegan with the award for the Most Outstanding Offensive Player following that UNC-Wilmington Tournament.

Reading List

Click here for the Pipe Dream's recap of the match against Cornell on Wednesday.

The Last Time It Happened...

When the men's soccer team last traveled to Columbia in 2013, University President Harvey Stenger joined an alumni gathering before and during the match. We shot a video of the event, with several alumni giving their take on what being a part of the Binghamton men's soccer program meant to them.

Click here for the complete video.

Coming Up Next...

We will start our Homecoming Week updates on Monday. The Bearcats have a six-day break between the games against Columbia and Buffalo.

Posted September 16, 2016 at noon.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




SEPTEMBER 16, 2016

Homecoming Game

Okay, the Homecoming game for the men's soccer team is next week. To prove it, click here for the press release the athletic department sent out earlier today.

For Jake Keegan, however, his homecoming game is on Saturday night. Playing for F.C. Edmonton of the North American Soccer League (NASL), Keegan returns to his home state for a match against the Cosmos.

Originally from Stormville, N.Y. and having starred for the Bearcats from 2009-12, Keegan has had this weekend circled on his calendar for months.

"I can't wait to get back to New York," he said. "We have played the Cosmos twice at home, so I finally get to play a game in my home state for the first time in four years."

It has been an impressive season for Keegan and F.C. Edmonton. He ranks second on the squad with five goals and the club is tied for second in the 12-team league with 25 points.

"I could not have asked for more in my first season with Edmonton," he said. "This team has had the best season in the club's history and I have started every game. I always want to be scoring goals and hopefully I can do so during the stretch run of the season."

Although F.C. Edmonton will be the visiting team on Saturday night, Keegan knows he will have a good cheering section.

"Lots of family and friends will be there on Saturday," he said. "Too many to count."

Binghamton head coach Paul Marco will be traveling up to watch the match. It comes at the perfect time because the current Bearcat squad is at Columbia the next day.

"It's going to be great to watch Jake play for F.C. Edmonton," he said. "We are delighted with how well he has done this year but we are not surprised. He always did the little things right when he was here (at Binghamton). He stayed fit and took care of himself."

As if returning home isn't incentive enough for Keegan, Saturday night's match is a big one for F.C. Edmonton. The Cosmos are first in the NASL standings with 30 points.

"Saturday is an absolutely massive game for both clubs," he said. "As of now, we are two of the top teams in the league. This game will go a huge way towards seeing who gets the regular-season title and home field in the playoffs."

It's been four years since Keegan finished his career at Binghamton but he continues to follow the team from wherever he is.

"I have always followed the Bearcats since graduation," he said. "It's great to see that the guys are playing well this year. Logan (Roberts) is the last guy that I played with who is still on the team (all others have graduated with an earlier class)."

There are, however, two other people still connected with the Binghamton program that Keegan played with.

"It's great to see Tommy (Moon) and Bret (Celeste) on the coaching staff," he said. "I hope Coach Marco is saving a spot for me one day."

There is no question about that.

"Tell Jake he has a spot here," Marco replied.

Click here for the F.C. Edmonton website.

Let's Go To the Video Tape

Click here for Time Warner Cable News' coverage of Wednesday's match against Cornell.

Click here for WICZ's coverage.

Social Media Update

Click here for a great photo on our Instagram account of Ben Ovetsky's goal against Cornell. Kudos to Binghamton University photographer Jonathan Cohen for capturing the moment.

Reading List

Binghamton's only loss this year has been to Loyola-Chicago, a team now ranked No. 15 in the nation.

HERO College Sports has included them in an article entitled "Five Undefeated Teams You Should Know." Click here to access it.

That's Dedication

We left the Events Center late night night, well after the building cleared out. Or so we thought.

The BU spirit squads were on the first floor, going over their routines. Many of those groups should be at Homecoming next week.

Great job with getting ready given the time of night.

This Day in Men's Soccer History: September 15, 2015

Binghamton won 1-0 at Cornell a year ago tonight. Alex Varkatzas netted the game-winning goal in the second half.

As the Bearcats said last night, however, new coach John Smith has definitely improved the Big Red since he took over the squad.

Posted September 16, 2016
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Cornell Wrap Up

Crossbars hit and goalkeeper saves made added up to a 1-1 tie between Binghamton and Cornell tonight at the Bearcats Sports Complex.

Here are the main takeaways:

Breaking Through

It's been a week of firsts for Ben Ovetsky.

Up until the Northern Illinois game, he had yet to score a collegiate goal. Now he has the Bearcats' last two goals.

He had an equally impressive postgame interview, following Binghamton's 1-1 tie against Cornell. Walking back to the locker room, he told us that was the first interview he had given since he came here.

Let's just say, he aced his first interview. Click here to watch the complete post-game press conference.

Despite the recent success he has had, Ovetsky doesn't feel the added pressure to keep scoring goals. He is one of six Binghamton players to have found the back of the net this year.

"I don't necessarily feel the added pressure," he said after the game. "We have had a lot of guys step up and score goals this year."

Ovetsky also acknowledges the role his teammates have played in getting the attackers the ball this year. Both Harrison Weilbacher and Conrad Nowowiejski were credited with assists on his goal. Both of them have two assists this season.

"Conrad and Harrison did a great job getting the ball up field," he said. "That left me with the easy part."

It is worth noting that Ovetsky has done the hard part himself this past week. His goal against Northern Illinois on Friday was unassisted. Head Coach Paul Marco called it "first class" in his post-game comments.

Now Starting for the Bearcats…

As Coach Marco has stated in several interviews, starting positions continue to be won in training. Against Cornell, freshman forward Harry Wood and sophomore midfielder Connor McKnight each made their first start of the season.

Wood, who arrived in late August from England, has played in all seven games this season. McKnight, who battled injuries most of last season, has now appeared in five of the seven matches.

Hello Again

It's customary for a team to begin to look ahead to their next match. Ovetsky though, has added incentive for Sunday afternoon's contest at Columbia.

"I actually have a lot of friends who play for Columbia," he said. "I am looking forward to it. There will be some personal bragging rights on the line."

Throw Out the Records

Coach Marco wasn't kidding when he said a team's record is irrelevant. On paper, Cornell appeared to be staggering after Sunday's 5-2 loss at American.

Under first-year coach John Smith, however, the Big Red appear to have improved from the squad the Bearcats beat 1-0 on the road last season.

"They are definitely better than last year when we played them," Ovetsky said. "Kudos to their coaching staff. They have a very good team"

We should add that Coach Smith was equally as gracious to us both before and after the match.

On the Menu

A weekday and late game made Wednesday's post-game tailgate a take-out (or in this instance, a take-home) event. Still, the player's families had a good balance between Wegman's subs and homemade pasta salads for everyone to box up on their way out of the Events Center.

The chocolate chip cookies, they told us, were homemade. Having sampled (more than) one, we definitely support that claim.

This Day in Binghamton Men's Soccer History: September 14, 2008

Binghamton wins 1-0 at No. 21 Wisconsin. Andy Teidt scored the game winner in the 36th minute, off an assist from Kyle Kucharski.

In goal, Jason Stena made three saves to record the solo shutout.

With the victory, the Bearcats improved to 3-1-2 and extended their unbeaten streak to five games.

Posted September 14, 2016 at 11 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




SEPTEMBER 13, 2016

A Welcome Addition

A month ago, Alejandro Cubillo had yet to play a minute of college soccer. He redshirted at UConn in 2015 before transferring to Binghamton.

Six matches into the season, Cubillo has three solo shutouts in goal as the Bearcats have gone 3-1-2. The competition for the starting goalkeeper job was wide open at the start of preseason but Cubillo has made the most of his opportunity.

"I like it a lot here at Binghamton," he said. "I feel very comfortable and the guys have been great to play with."

He has three shutouts but Cubillo has little doubt which one was the most impressive.

"The George Washington match was the toughest," he said. "It was extremely difficult with the heat. Our guys did a great job out there."

One advantage Cubillo has going for him is the veteran starting backline, which includes co-captains Zach Galluzzo and Charlie Novoth, Kevin Flesch and Stephen McKenna. The leadership on defense has meant a lot to him.

"Zach and Charlie help us a lot both on and off the field," he said. "Having two experienced guys (in the backfield) has been great."

Novoth, for one, is equally appreciative of the role Cubillo has played so far.

"He has filled the goalkeeping spot excellently," he said. "He is a big presence back there and it's great to have someone in goal as good as him. He has fit into the team very well and is a great person to be around.

Cubillo also works extensively with assistant coach Lou Liberatore, who develops the Bearcat goalkeepers.

"Lou is great," he said. "He does a great job with all of the goalkeepers. All of us are comfortable with the training he does and it really helps us when we get out there and compete."

A Balanced Attack

Through six matches, Binghamton has already scored seven times. In addition to averaging over a goal a game, the Bearcats have had six score at least once this year.

"It shows that everyone has been out here working hard," Galluzzo said. "Our goals aren't the most spectacular but they are always hard fought. We are not just leaving it up to one person to score. We are really a full team."

Work Needed

Six matches into the season, the Bearcats are still rusty in one area – the Birthday Flip.

For those unfamiliar with the Birthday Flip, if a player has a birthday, the rest of the team tosses him in the air three times. At the end of training on Tuesday, a player (who shall remain nameless) who found to have had a birthday. The rest of the team, however, failed to completely catch him the first time they tossed him (not to worry, the player was eventually placed on the turf without any injuries).

"We got to hit the gym more and get stronger," Cubillo quipped.

Meet the Press

Click here for Facebook Live's coverage of the interviews following Tuesday's training session. Coach Marco, Novoth and Galluzzo spoke about the state of the team and looked ahead to tomorrow's match against Cornell.

Reading List

Click here for the Pipe Dream's Recap of the Bearcats' weekend at the Northern Illinois/adidas Invitational.

Click here to go to the America East men's soccer page. The conference is now 23-10-6 so far this year. 

Elsewhere on Campus

Terrific start for the Binghamton women's soccer team, which is now 4-2-2 this season. Click here for the recap of Sunday's 3-1 home victory over Temple.

This Day in Binghamton Men's Soccer History: September 13, 2013

Binghamton wins its home opener over Buffalo 2-0. Steven Celeste and Robbie Hughes tallied the Bearcat goals.

Hughes' celebration following his second-half goal remains one of the vivid ones we have seen at the Bearcat Sports Complex. He stormed up the sidelines while blowing kisses to the fans (coming close to knocking over one of our videographers in the process).

Need a look at that goal? Click here for our post on Facebook today. Click here for the all-access video of the game and scroll to the 4:05 mark.

In all seriousness, Hughes was a captain the current seniors credit for helping them grow into the leaders they have been. He was also awarded the America East's Sportsmanship Award for the 2013-14 Academic Year.

Coming Up Next

A late post coming tomorrow night, following the match against Cornell.

Posted September 13, 2016 at 3:30 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

This Day In Binghamton Men's Soccer History: September 12, 2001

Every year, Keith Augeri looks forward to telling his class about one of the most memorable games he played during his career at Binghamton University. A senior on head coach Paul Marco's first team at Binghamton (2002), he is now a social studies teacher at a Long Island high school.

Fifteen years ago today, Augeri played in one of the most significant games in men's soccer program history. It was September 12, 2001 – the day after the attacks on the World Trade Center which brought the nation to a halt.

Binghamton had been scheduled to face Stony Brook the day before at the old West Gym Field. The tragic events, however, led to the postponement of that contest.

Stony Brook had arrived on campus the day before the attacks. Now they were unable to return home. Both teams had spent September 11 making sure their families were safe. Neither one of the squads even touched a soccer ball.

The following morning, the two schools agreed to play at 2 p.m. that day. It would be one of—if not the only NCAA games to be played that day in the nation. Still, the players definitely were on board with the decision.

"We wanted to play," Augeri said. "We wanted to honor the victims and dedicate the game to them."

Playing against a Seawolf team that beat them 4-0 the previous year, the Bearcats showed their mettle despite losing 1-0. For both teams, however, playing the day after September 11 was the start of a healing process.

Every year on September 11, Augeri tells his social studies students the story of what it was like to be playing in the only NCAA game in the country. The memories he has remain vivid.

"Although it was 15 years I remember some moments like they were yesterday," he said. "From the team meeting on 9/11 down in the West Gym lobby to tell us that the game had been rescheduled, to the national anthem, everything remains vivid."

Every year, Augeri faces the challenge of talking to students who are less likely to recall the events of September 11, 2001.

"Most of the students I have this year were one two years old at the time, so I wonder what I should tell this group," he said last week. "I tend to always have full attention from my students as I tell the story and I sometimes wonder how long it will last?  When will the younger group who either doesn't remember or were not born yet just chalk it up to another day in history?  My hope is never."

Augeri does not chalk up his career at Binghamton as just another team he competed on. He is a JV coach at the same high school and credits his collegiate career for shaping him into the coach that is he today.

"A lot from Binghamton sticks with me," he said. "On the field there are bunch of things that I remember Paul drilling into me my senior year that I try to drill into my guys...from body position to movement off the ball.  I even use the technique Paul taught in how to tie your laces for them never to come untied."

Equally as important at Binghamton was how Augeri and his fellow Bearcats conducted themselves off the playing field. That too has transferred into how he coaches his team today.

"My players must be model citizens in the (school) building if they expect to play for me," he said. "I want them to take care of business in the classroom because true success is being respected for both academics, integrity and the commitment to the team on the field."

Augeri remembers the lessons he learned at Binghamton. He may not recall all of the games. But he will always remember the game on September 12, 2001 as one of the most significant contests he has taken part in.

"That 2001 team had a lot of tough games," he said. "We lost 13 games by one goal. But the circumstances surrounding the game against Stony Brook makes it one of the most meaningful games I have every played in."

Coming Up Next

The 2016 Bearcats are back in the field training on Tuesday afternoon. We will begin to look ahead to Wednesday's home match against Cornell.

Posted September 12, 2016 at 11:30 a.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




SEPTEMBER 11, 2016
 
Putting Things In Perspective
 
With a tough loss today against a Loyola-Chicago squad that will be nationally-ranked in the near future, Binghamton is no longer undefeated in 2016.
 
Fifteen years ago today, however, it was a completely different story for Binghamton.
 
In 2001, Binghamton was in its first season as a Division I men's soccer program and was 0-3-0. Two of their loses were by a single goal, with one coming in overtime. The Bearcats were scheduled to host Stony Brook on September 11, 2001 at 3 p.m. at the old West Gym Field.
 
Five hours before kickoff, the tragic attacks occurred in New York City. The campus shut down and the game was postponed.
 
Stony Brook had arrived in Binghamton the night before and was staying at the Holiday Inn across the street from campus. Not only was the team unable to return home but many Seawolf players were trying to make sure their loved ones were safe.
 
Although they were the home team, Binghamton was in the same situation. Many players from near New York City and Long Island were also trying to located their family and friends.
 
Suffice to say, neither team touched a soccer ball that afternoon.
 
On a personal note, I spent that Tuesday afternoon visiting with the Stony Brook SID, Shannon Hart. She had made the trip to Binghamton with the team. Although she has since left the sports information industry, she remains a good friend of mine.
 
Shannon and I watched the television coverage of the attacks with the rest of the Stony Brook support staff. It was becoming apparent that the Holiday Inn would be their home for at least the next few days.
 
Back on campus, the athletic administration had some decisions to make. It was an easy call cancelling the volleyball team's trip out to the West Coast because all air transportation had been suspended in the country. The women's soccer team was scheduled to play on the road later that week but that event was called off.
 
But with both the Binghamton and Stony Brook men's soccer teams in town, the question was whether they should play the game at some point during the next few days.
 
That question would be answered the following morning.
 
We'll recap that day in tomorrow's post.
 
So while today was a tough result for the current Bearcat team, both the program and the nation have come a long way since September 11, 2001.
 
Posted September 11, 2001 at 3:30 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




SEPTEMBER 9, 2016

Coming On Strong

Binghamton entered the 2016 season with plenty of proven scorers. Zach Galluzzo, Alex Varkatzas, Logan Roberts and Nikkos Psarras were all expected to find the back of the net this year.

Through four matches, however, it is sophomore midfielder Miles Burbank who leads the Bearcats with a pair of goals. He enters the Northern Illinois/adidas Invitational with a two-game scoring streak.

In talking with Burbank, however, he is quick to credit his teammates for setting him up for success. Both of his goals came off of crosses.

"My production last weekend all started with my teammates," he said. "Without a great cross from Conrad (Nowowiejski against Siena) or pass from Charlie (Novoth against Manhattan) I wouldn't have scored. We've moved the ball around great and that's from everyone being productive in their roles."

As a freshman, Burbank appeared in eight games and got one start. He has appeared in all four games so far this year and won a starting spot last week. Needless to say, Burbank feels he has improved from his freshman year.

 "I think my decision making and composure on the ball has improved a lot from last year," he said. "Competing every day in practice with the great players we have has forced me improve my game."

Two players who has specifically helped Burbank since he arrived here have been co-captains Novoth and Zach Galluzzo.

"I think since I've gotten here Charlie and Zach have really helped me," he said. "The way they both play and lead set a great example for us underclassmen to follow."

Head Coach Paul Marco has also been pleased with Burbank's development.

"Miles has been great the past two matches," he said on the WNBF morning show Friday. "His fitness has improved a lot and he knows where to be when the ball is in play."

Binghamton had a short week of training on campus, having returned from Manhattan late Monday night and flown out to Illinois yesterday morning. Still, Burbank likes where the team is heading into the weekend.

"I think the team is in a good spot," he said. "We've been getting results in games and been having good training sessions, so I think we are definitely ready for this weekend."

The Last Time it Happened…..

It's been seven years since Binghamton played a match (let alone two matches) out of the Eastern Time Zone. In 2009, the Bearcats traveled to the New Mexico Tournament for neutral site games against Gonzaga and UC-Davis.

The weekend will be the Bearcats' first-ever games against Northern Illinois and Loyola-Chicago.

This Day in Binhgamton Bearcats History: September 9, 2015

Conrad Nowowiejski doesn't just fire good crosses. He also finds the back of the net. He scored on of the Bearcats' three goals in their 3-2 win over St. Peter's one year ago today. Florian Orth and Tucker Sandercock had the other two first-half goals.

Binghamton improved to 3-1-0 with the victory.

Coming Attractions

We will have a full wrap up following Sunday's game.

On Monday, however, we will switch gears to remember the 15-year anniversary the September 12, 2001 game against Stony Brook. That game was originally supposed to be played the preceding day but the attacks of September 11 changed all of that. With Stony Brook stranded on campus, the decision was made to play that game.

Posted September 9, 2015 at 11 a.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu





SEPTEMBER 8, 2016

Reaching Out

The Bearcats left early this morning for their trip to Northern Illinois. We'll catch up with them tomorrow but today, we have another alumni story to share with you.

Darren McAllister is a 2008 graduate of Binghamton University and played two seasons after transferring prior to his junior year. He became one of the most respected players on the teams those two seasons and off the field, was a member of the National College Athlete Honor Society.

Originally from Scotland, McAllister stayed close to his family during his college years in the United States. The trust they displayed in him was very strong.

"They trusted me to keep good company," he said. "If I introduced people as my friends, then they were instantly friends of my Mom and Dad too."

 In particular, McAllister and his father were very close. When McAllister graduated from the Events Center in 2008, his father made an instant impression upon his teammates.
 
"My Dad's character was infectious," he said. "It was impossible not to instantly like him, and that's exactly what happened with so many of the guys. He would talk to them as if they were long lost friends."

Six years later, several of McAllister's Binghamton teammates and his family reunited in Scotland for his wedding. The scene was nearly identical to when he graduated from Binghamton.

"A lot of the guys made it over for our wedding in 2014," he said. "Of course my Dad was delighted to welcome them all with open arms, again as if they had known one another other for years and years. Everyone loved him."

In the years since he graduated from Binghamton, McAllister and his father continued to be very close. Even though his job took him all over the world, he never let the bond between them lessen.

"He was my best friend -- a soul mate," he said. "He was someone who if I didn't speak to throughout the course of the day -- no matter where I was in the world, the day didn't feel complete. I adored my dad."

In September 2015, however, McAllister's father died from esophageal cancer. He had been diagnosed a year and a half earlier and when he was at the wedding in 2014, the Bearcat alumni were all very supportive. When he did pass away, it left McAllister devastated.

"Losing him has been the most difficult experience of my life," he said. "I still to this day pick up my phone to call him. I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that he isn't around anymore, it definitely doesn't get easier but I have learned to live without him a little bit better."

In the months following his father's death, McAllister did research on esophageal cancer to see how he could help spread awareness.

"I didn't know too much about esophageal cancer," he said. "In fact, I doubt if I had ever heard of it before. Still, I did a bit of research and found a charity called Ochre that promote awareness of the disease and do a great job in helping people become aware of the early signs. I wish I had known more when dad began to show those symptoms."

With his soccer background, McAllister came up with a unique way to raise funds for Ochre.

"I decided to raise some money to donate to the charity and began setting up a football match," he said. "Not just any football match... I was part of the Deveronvale F.C. team to win the first ever Highland League trophy in the club's history (in 2003) and I think my mom and dad attended every single game. My dad always had his camera at hand, snapping away throughout every game. He was my biggest supporter and harshest critic as a player. I managed to re-assemble the title winning squad in July this year and we played against a team of Highland league Legends."

The response to the match exceeded McAllister's wildest expectations.

"Donations at the turnstiles topped £7000 and the figure is still rising," he said. "My initial target was £3000 so I'm over the moon."

If that wasn't enough, it was a letter than McAllister received in mid-July that really brought him to tears.

"I went home one day in mid-July to find a letter with an American postmark on it," he said. "The letter was from my fellow Bearcats: Brendan McGovern, Joel Collins, Yusuf Yusuf, Mike Zervas, Ryan Walter, Matt Narode, Cameron Wyllie, Kyle Kucharski, Christ Terry, Erwin Seguia, Ibby Yusuf, Pablo Trillo, David Grad, Josh Sailar and Coach Marco.  It spoke about how the guys were proud of me putting together the charity event and how they wanted to lend their support and show their fondness and memories of my father. Enclosed was a Bearcats scarf and a check for $650."

McAllister always kept in touch with his former teammates. But their gesture showed just how strong their friendship with him was.

"The gesture meant the absolute world to me and my family, and I know my dad would have been absolutely blown away by it too," he said. "Dad used to always tell me that I had a knack for picking great friends to surround myself with, and I think he was right, although I was gifted the chance to become a Bearcat, and these wonderful guys were there waiting. I'll never take that for granted. I loved these guys and all of my Bearcat family before I received this incredible gesture, but it has only gone on to reinforce the love I have for each and every one of them."

As he looks back to his days at Binghamton, McAllister remembers the Bearcats as being more than just a team.

"We weren't just athletes that trained with each other every day," he said. "We lived our lives with each other. We became brothers that would have each other's backs no matter what the situation -- on or off the field! I regard these guys as my family and I'll always be thankful for having them in my life and being given the opportunity to meet them all. I'm thankful that my dad got to meet so many of them and also that they got to meet my Dad and appreciate the kind of man he was."

Postscript: I got to meet McAllister's parents in December 2008, right before he graduated. He brought them to my office and we talked for about 15 minutes. Being a big golf fan, I got to talking with them about all of the top European golfers. McAllister's family thanked me for being a part of his life at Binghamton. They too treated me as if they had known me for years. I am thankful that I also got to experience first-hand what his father was like.




SEPTEMBER 7, 2016

Alumni Gatherings

With the Bearcats training today and leaving for Chicago tomorrow, we are switching gears and spotlighting some of our recent alumni.

There were two weddings this summer which brought several men's soccer alums back together.

In August, Brendan McGovern (Class of 2009) married Jessica Hurley and bunch of his former teammates were at the ceremony. We caught up with McGovern who mentioned Justin Leskow, Barry Neville, Jason Stenta, Matt Ryan, Matt Narode, Ibrahim Yusuf, Pablo Trillo, David Grad and Chris Terry among his former teammates who made the trip.

"The wedding was a great time, due in large part to being surrounded by so many family and friends —including the Binghamton boys," he said.

McGovern shared a story from an event that took place right before the wedding reception – which involved his former teammates.

"All of the boys met at the hotel before heading to the reception," he said. "In the hotel lobby, there was a trophy on display --no idea what for. Matt Narode, being the character that he is, grabbed the trophy and began running around with it like he'd just won a Cup final, and then got the boys to pose for a few pictures with it -- just like they used to when they won a three-team game at practice."

While we don't have a photo of that moment, McGovern assured us that it was properly captured.

"Thankfully, Nicole Montoya-Neville caught it on camera and film so I was able to enjoy such a great moment of friendship, camaraderie and hooliganism that the Bearcat boys are known for," he said.

Rest assured, the Bearcats took good care of the trophy during the proceedings.

"It goes without saying -- but I'll mention it anyways -- that the trophy was returned to its pedestal, in better condition than before it was removed," McGovern said.

Earlier in the summer, Chris Terry married Binghamton women's soccer alum Kim Thomas in Newport, Rhode Island. McGovern and several of the Bearcat alums – from both the men's and women's teams were on hand.
According to McGovern, there were no trophy photos from that event.

Speaking of Bearcat weddings, Chris Hayen (Class of 2013) celebrated his first anniversary yesterday with his wife Jen Fiorentino yesterday. She played volleyball at Binghamton and several alums from both teams were at the wedding last year.

This Day in Men's Soccer History: September 7, 2005

Narode may be a character but he was also a goal scorer during his Binghamton career.

He scored twice in Binghamton's 5-1 win over St. Joseph's at the West Gym Field. The Bearcats improved to 2-0-1 with the victory.

Narode, who returned to the program's coaching staff in 2010, had three two-goal games during his career.

Social Media Update

Click here for a photo on our Facebook site from Narode's two-goal game against St. Joseph's

Reading List

Head coach Paul Marco said a few teams from the America East should be nationally ranked. Vermont is the first team to make the list, checking in at No. 23 in the NSCAA Top 25 Poll.

Click here for the entire poll.

Both Vermont and New Hampshire are also ranked regionally by the NSCAA.

Posted on September 7, 2015 at 1:30 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

Leftovers

With the Bearcats back on campus and having the day off from training, here are some remaining bits of information to go over.

Reading List

Click here for the Pipe Dream's recap of the Siena and Manhattan matches.

Great Start

Binghamton is one of four unbeaten teams in the America East through two weeks of the season. The combined record of the eight conference teams is currently 16-7-6.

Click here for the America East Men's Soccer web page, which includes the standings and other news.

Last week on the WNBF Morning Show, Binghamton head coach Paul Marco said he would not be surprised if multiple teams from the America East were nationally ranked. Click here for the current College Soccer News Top 30 poll, which has both New Hampshire and Vermont receiving votes.

Guess Who?

Last week, we posted the all-access video from the day of the season opener against Canisius.

One of the more interesting part came at the 2:29 mark, when Ben Ovetsky poked his head in front of the camera during the pre-game meal at New York Pizza. Thinking that part would be deleted, we reshot that scene.

What came out instead, of course, was the shot of Ovetsky with a graphic introducing him. Not only that, but on the team page, you can see the still shot of him on the YouTube space.

Click here for the complete video.

Click here for the men's soccer webpage, which has Ovetsky in the upper right corner by the YouTube page.

This Day in Binghamton Men's Soccer: September 6, 2013

Current Bearcat assistant coach Tommy Moon scored in the first half, leading Binghamton to a 1-0 win at American University.

Posted September 6, 2016 at 12:45 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




SEPTEMBER 5, 2016
 
Manhattan Wrap Up
 
Labor Day featured a workmanlike victory for the men's soccer team, who is now 2-0-2 on the season. Some quick thoughts to get things started.
 
Coming On Strong
 
On Friday, head coach Paul Marco said that sophomore midfielder Miles Burbank earned a starting position because of how good he did in training last week. Evidently, he has no intention of giving that spot up.
 
Burbank has now scored in each of the past two matches.
 
"Miles has a good idea of where the ball in play is going," Coach Marco said. "He has done very well since getting a starting spot."
 
A Set Up
 
Heading into the season, Coach Marco felt very good about Binghamton's ability to convert set pieces.
 
Senior back Zach Galluzzo's goal in the second half came off a corner kick by sophomore midfielder Harrison Weilbacher. It was the Bearcats' third set-piece goal of the season.
 
"We have a lot of dangerous players in the box when we take our set pieces," Marco said. "Tonight, Zach was the one who got the goal. On Friday (against Siena) it was Alex (Varkatzas)."
 
Taking the set pieces have been Weilbacher and redshirt junior back Charlie Novoth. Each of them has a team-best two assists so far this season. One of each of their assists has come off a set piece.
 
Fittingly enough, Weilbacher's set piece goal against Canisius in the season opener remains the Bearcats' most replayed shot of the year.
 
Can't Take Credit For This
 
I am not the most creative with nicknames but I have colleagues in the Binghamton sports information office that are.
 
After Miles Burbank scored against Manhattan, I received this text from one of my co-workers
 
"Put it in the (Bur)Bank."
 
Chris Berman of ESPN, who is known for his nicknames, would be proud.
 
But I Can Take the Blame For This
 
In writing my preview for the Manhattan match early this morning, I had Adam Blackwell as scoring the first goal against Siena on Friday.
 
Shortly after the start of the game tonight, a fan e-mailed me noting my error. They said they were at Siena on Friday, so they would know.
 
The minute after I made the change, Burbank scored against the Jaspers.
 
I then fired back an e-mail to the fan, stating that I wouldn't make the same mistake twice.
 
Elsewhere on Campus
 
Back in Binghamton, the women's soccer team continues its impressive start to the year under new head coach Neel Bhattacharjee. With their 1-0 overtime win against Siena, the Bearcats are now 3-1-2.
 
It must be noted that Siena is the defending MAC champions.
 
Click here for the recap.
 
Two For Two
 
Speaking of the women's soccer team, they also won at Manhattan – 1-0 on Friday. So the two Bearcat squads won by a total of 3-0 on the same turf on Labor Day Weekend.
 
This Day In Binghamton Men's Soccer History: September 5, 2009
 
Kyle Manscuk's goal in overtime lifted Binghamton to a 1-0 win over Colgate at the Bearcats Sports Complex. Afterwards, Manscuk credited the winning shot to a pair of cleats he just got earlier in the day. He ordered them from overseas during the summer but had to wait until his father brought them to him the day of the game.
 
Posted September 5, 2016 at 10:45 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




SEPTEMBER 2, 2016
 
Wrap Up From Siena
 
As disappointing as ties can be, the past two games have been very encouraging for the Bearcats. Here are some quick thoughts from today's draw against the No. 21 Saints:
 
Finishing Strong
 
Although they have yet to score an overtime goal this season, the Bearcats have outshot their opponents 8-1 during the 40 minutes of extra play. Remember that both games have been on the road against high-caliber opponents.
 
Starting Strong
 
Being late to watch a men's soccer game this year has not been a good practice.
 
For the second time in three matches, Binghamton scored in the opening 10 minutes. In the season opener, sophomore Nikos Psarras scored in the fifth minute of the Bearcats' win over Siena.

"We have come out great in all three matches this year," head coach Paul Marco said. "Even against GW on Monday, we started very strong. We have come ready to play each time."
 
The Youth Movement Continues
 
Against Siena, Binghamton got its first goal from a pair of sophomores (Miles Burbank on the goal and Conrad Nowowiejski on the assist). Fellow sophomore Kevin Flesch was credited with an assist on Alex Varkatzas' game-tying goal.
 
All of the Bearcats' four goals this season have either been scored – or assisted by – an underclassman.

Earlier in the week, Coach Marco noted that starting positions would be "won and lost in training." That is because the sophomore class was so deep that not all of them could play at once. That philosophy paid dividends on the first goal against Siena. 

"Miles and Conrad were great in training this week," he said. "So they got the starts tonight and got a great first goal for us early tonight."

 One Streak Ends…Another Starts
 
Before the Saints two-goal outburst in the second half, Binghamton had gone 220 minutes without allowing a goal.
 
The Bearcat defense settled down afterwards and closed out the match with 57 minutes of scoreless soccer.
 
Defensively, Binghamton is allowing just 0.87 goals per game so far this year.
 
Accurate Forecast?
 
On this morning's WNBF interview, head coach Paul Marco noted that Siena was No. 21 in the nation but lost to New Hampshire (of the America East) 2-1 earlier in the week.
 
Host Roger Neel then asked Marco how Siena would fare in the America East Conference.
 
"I'll tell you what," Marco said. "Two or three teams in the America East are going to be nationally ranked at some point this season. I hope we are one of them."
 
This Day in Men's Soccer History: September 2, 2007
 
The last time Binghamton was unbeaten through three matches was in 2007, when it went 5-0-0. Game two of that stretch was a 1-0 win over Winthrop in the final round of the Radford Highlander Classic.
 
Matt Narode scored the game winner in the 18th minute.
 
A Good Omen?
 
It's a late night for us on Labor Day Monday as the Bearcats head to Manhattan for a 7 p.m. match.
 
The Bearcat women's soccer team defeated the Jaspers 1-0 tonight on that same field.

Check back Monday night to see if the men can make it a Binghamton sweep.
 
Posted September 2, 2016 at 8:15 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

Stepping Up

The Greek origin of the word sophomore is the phrase "wise fool."

In looking over the sophomore class of the Binghamton men's soccer team, "wise" might be a suitable term but "fool" most definitely isn't.

Against GW on Monday, six sophomores (including a pair of redshirt freshmen) were in the starting lineup. Four of the six substitute players were also sophomores. Both Binghamton goals this season have been scored by sophomore players and the lone assist was tallied by – you guessed it – a sophomore.

The collective group showed significant promise last year. Through the first month of the fall season, they have already begun to live up to those expectations.

"The growth we've seen in the sophomore class has been outstanding," head coach Paul Marco said. "They have always been a very competitive group but what we have seen over the last few months is their understanding of when to be skillful and when to not be as overzealous during the match. They know what they need to do in a (specific) moment."

"We have all matured," sophomore forward Nikkos Psarras said. "We are more used to the college level (of play) this year. We all have faith in each other and try to keep improving more."

It's not just the similar ages which brings this class together – it's the close living quarters they share.

"We all get along great," Psarras said. "We live together and are always supporting each other.

Although its contribution to the team is significant, the sophomore class credits the upperclassmen for making its growth possible.

"The upperclassmen have been great," redshirt freshman Stephen McKenna said. "They welcomed us onto the team last year and have made it easy for us to transition into sophomores."

In addition to their play on the field, three of the sophomores are part of the Bearcats' leadership group. This is been greatly appreciated by the veterans on the team.

"I love have them in the leadership group," co-captain Charlie Novoth said. "We met with someone earlier in the year who said you can't have one or two captains--you have to have a whole team. They have really stepped up into leadership roles."

There is one problem, however, that the sophomore class had posed for the team.

"They have shown a desire to play and obviously I can't play all of them at once," Marco said. "Spots are being won and lost in training right now."

No Complaints

Any team would be happy to train under sunny skies with weather in the 70s. After Monday's 96 degree heat in Washington D.C., the Bearcats had an extra appreciation for the change in weather.

"It's a beautiful day today," Novoth said. "We can actually breathe."

"It was a bit too hot down in GW," McKenna said. "It's great to be back here."

Speaking of the Sophomore Class...

Sophomore midfielder Harrison Weilbacher is the Binghamton University Wells Fargo Athlete of the Week. Click here for the interview with him.

All-Access Video

We spent most of last Friday not just preparing for the match against Canisius but also following the team around. From the WNBF Radio Station, across campus for classes to the pregame meal and post-game tailgate (notice that food is a common theme), it was a busy day in more ways than one.

Click here for the final product, which details game day for the Bearcats.

This Day in Binghamton Men's Soccer History: September 1, 2009

As we stated last week, the win over Canisius marked the first time the men's soccer team has opened a season at home since 2009.

That match, a 3-2 win over Syracuse, occurred seven years ago today. Kyle Kucharski assisted on all three goals.

Posted September 1, 2016 at 3:30 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




AUGUST 31

Odds and Ends

We have reached the end of the first month of the 2016 season (including preseason). A quiet day on campus as the Bearcats held their first training session since returning from Washington D.C. Given the 96 degree heat on Monday, the players must have found today's light rain to their liking.

A few other things to go over before we roll into September:

Plays of the Week

We knew Harrison Weilbacher's goal against Canisius was special the moment it happened. The NCAA was evidently also impressed, citing it as one of the six best goals of the week. Click here for the NCAA's article and video clips.

Good Start

Not a big shock that the America East as a conference is off to another impressive start. The collective record of the eight teams is 9-3-3. Five of the squads, including Binghamton, are unbeaten through two matches. Click here for the current standings. 

Statisically Speaking

While America East stats come out each Monday, Binghamton is currently ranked first in the confernece with a 0.48 goals against average.

This Day in Binghamton Men's Soccer History: August 31, 2012

The Bearcats have won their past three games on this date during their Division I era. We'll go with the most impressive win -- a 2-0 shutout at Buffalo four years ago. Jake Keegan had a goal and an assist, both in the second half, to lead the Bearcats to the shutout victory.

Speaking Of Which...

Keegan continues to lead F.C. Edmonton (of the NASL) with five goals. His team is currently 12-4-4 and tied for first place with the New York Cosmos in the 12-team league. Click here for more information. 

Posted August 31, 2016 at 5 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




AUGUST 30, 2016

Thoughts from the Road

We caught up with some of the Bearcats during their trip back from Washington D.C. to get their thoughts on the tie with George Washington. The Colonials won the Atlantic 10 regular-season title last season but the Bearcats played them even on Monday.

Junior back and co-captain Charlie Novoth

"We stayed very compact defensively and stopped GW during their attacks. We had great chances but could not finish them. Great grind from the boys in the heat and a very mature performance from our boys."

Sophomore back Kevin Flesch

"Throughout the game – and especially in the first half -- we did a very good job of defending and covered a lot of ground even though the conditions were extremely hard. We created good chances and were dangerous on the offensive attacks we had. We were just missing the last little piece to actually put the ball in the back of the net. Despite the fact that we are a little bit disappointed that we couldn't get the win, we are content with the tie on the road against a very good GW team."

Great Question

We pride ourselves on asking the right questions but hats off to Noah Bressner of the of the Pipe Dream for one of his questions to Harrison Weilbacher following Friday night's win over Canisius. Aware that Weilbacher was taking over the attacking midfield spot from the since-graduated Pascal Trappe, he asked what kind of an impact Trappe had on his game last year.

"Pascal and me are pretty close," Weilbacher said. "He's really been a role model to me and I really looked up to him last year. I saw how he played and I tried to model my play after his."

Not to be outdone, we reached Trappe on Monday night to get his thoughts on Weilbacher.

"Harrison is a special kid and was a great addition to our team last year," he said. "He is a very technical player and wants to keep the ball on the ground like I do. I really enjoyed playing with him and I tried to help him as much as I could because he has a similar playing style."

Trappe was very appreciative of Weilbacher's comments and sees only greatness ahead for him.

"It was nice to hear that I made an impact on him," Trappe said. "He is only a sophomore this year and has enough time to grow as a player in college during the next three seasons."

There was one other thing that Trappe told us about Weilbacher

"He remains a loyal customer to my haircut business," he said.

Sydney Harbaugh, who interned for our sports information office last year and starred on the softball team, wrote a feature article on Trappe. It was she that uncovered Trappe's ability to give haircuts to several players on the team.

Click here for the article, which ran last September.

This Day in Binghamton Bearcats History: August 30, 2015

For those of you who are new this year, we match up dates in the men's soccer program history and recall significant wins.

Fittingly enough, Trappe is the focal point of the Bearcats' 1-0 win over then No. 28 Ohio State one year ago today. His goal in just the fourth minute lifted the Bearcats to their first win over a nationally-ranked team in five years.

Click here for the recap.

Reading List

Click here for the Pipe Dream's complete recap of the men's soccer team's first two matches.

Click here for this week's America East Conference's Men's Soccer release.

Say Cheese

In case you missed it, click here for the photo gallery from Monday's match at George Washington.

Posted August 30, 2016 at 2:45 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




AUGUST 29, 2016

Weekend Leftovers

Two matches and (if you are counting them as conference-based) four points in four days.

With the Bearcats no doubt cooling off after playing in the sweltering heat of Washington D.C. today, let's go over some final stuff from the past few days.

Let's Go To the Video Tape

Here are the local TV stations' recaps of Friday night's win over Canisius

WIVT
FOX 40
Time Warner Cable News

Going Out With Class

As we told you last week, WIVT Sports Director Sarah Tranelli's final Binghamton game (in any sport) was the men's soccer team's win over Canisius. Not only did the Bearcats get the win, but both of their goals came in the first half before Tranelli has to leave to shoot her next event.

At the conclusion of her broadcast on Friday, Tranelli had this good bye message for her viewers. Click here for her complete message.

Look Up in the Sky

During his WNBF in-studio interview with Roger Neel on Friday morning, head coach Paul Marco was asked about any new technology he used to film the Bearcats' games.

He joked with Neel that we might see some drones in the sky. When Neel asked for more information, Coach Marco had the line of the interview.

"We might even have a donut from the Cider Mill being dropped by the drones," he quipped.

For those of you unfamiliar with the reference, Neel is an avid spokesman – and consumer – for the local donut, cider and pie establishment located in Endicott. Known to freeze donuts after the place shuts down for the year in December, Neel fell apart laughing when Marco made that reference.

"I would definitely make it out to matches if that happens ," he said.

Although it is a few days late, click here for the complete interview.

World Champions

Most of the local media had to leave the men's soccer game early on Friday-- and for good reason. They made the trip down to Williamsport, Pennsylvania to cover the Little League World Series on Saturday and Sunday.

As most of you know by now, the Maine Endwell Little League team pulled off the improbable and won the world championship. Without question, it has been one of the biggest sports stories in Binghamton area history.

We add our congratulations on that monumental accomplishment.

Coming Attractions

Once the players have escaped the Washington D.C. heat and have returned to campus on Tuesday, we will catch up with them and get their thoughts on the weekend.

We are also well underway with our all-access look at Friday's season opener against Canisius.

Posted August 30, 2016 at 6:45 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




AUGUST 26, 2016

Canisius Recap

In its first season opener at home since 2009, Binghamton got a pair of first-half goals to win 2-1 over Canisius before an impressive crowd on Friday night at the Bearcats Sports Complex.

Video Clips

Click here for the Facebook Live postgame press conference.

Click here for Nikkos Psarras's first-half goal.

Click here for Harrison Weilbacher's game-winning goal.

Getting the Green Light

Harrison Weilbacher had an interesting response when he was asked about his game-winning goal, which came on a free kick in the 36th minute.

"Charlie (Novoth) and I usually talk over set pieces before we take them," he said. "Sometimes we look for guys in front of the goal but he told me this time to go ahead and take the shot myself."

Good advice.

When we told Novoth about Weilbacher's comments, he insisted we give him an assist on the goal.

If there was a verbal assist statistical category, we would give it.

Welcome Back

Novoth is known as a pretty vocal leader on the field. When he was asked at the postgame press conference how it felt to playing again, he simply smiled and gave a short answer.

"Unbelievable. It felt great."

Novoth struggled with injuries in 2014, when he was a sophomore. He eventually redshirted last year so he could come back healthy. Through it all, Novoth gained the respect of his team to the point that he was named a co-captain this year.

So Friday was more than just Novoth's first match back. It was also his first match wearing a captain's stripe.

Great Support

The 862 fans, most of whom were students, were complimented by the Bearcats after the match.

"They were incredible," Novoth said. "We love when they come out and we hope we keep doing well for them during this season."

"The fans have been outstanding, both tonight and for the women's game last night," head coach Paul Marco said.

Social Media Update

Click here for the Instagram graphic that was posted after the win over Canisius.

On the Menu

For those of you new to the Men's Soccer Daily Update, we scope out the postgame tailgate following all of Binghamton's home games. It is a tradition the team started with a few pizzas back in 2007 but the event has grown significantly over the ensuing decade. The families of the Bearcat men's soccer team never fail to take care of the guys after a match.

Although the families got pizza from Nirchis and subs and salads from Wegman's, it was the homemade items that came up big. The caprese salad and perogies were the big hits for this blogger.

Honorable mention goes to whoever brought the Gatorade and put it on ice ahead of time. The 80 degree weather on the field was trumped by an even hotter temperature in the press box.

Coming Soon

We followed the team around from the start of the day until the postgame tailgate. We will be working on putting together the all-access video next week.

A reminder that Monday's post will appear after the match against George Washington.

Posted on August 26, 2016 at 11:20 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




AUGUST 25, 2016

Turning 10 Years Old

The 2016 season marks the 10th year of the Bearcats Sports Complex. Both of Binghamton's soccer teams played their inaugural games on that field in September 2007.

There have been 69 Binghamton men's soccer matches played at the Bearcats Sports Complex over the previous nine seasons. As a way of prepping for tomorrow's season opener, we have chosen the best home matches from each of the previous nine years.

October 6, 2007: This one has stood the test of time as perhaps the most dramatic win in the men's soccer team's history at the Bearcats Sports Complex. On the night the facility was formally dedicated, Cameron Keith scored the game-winning goal in the final seconds of the first overtime period, completing a 2-1 comeback win over Boston University before over 1,600 fans who braved a downpour at the start of the match.

October 18, 2008: The first-ever sellout at the Bearcats Sports Complex, and a regional television audience on Time Warner Cable Sports, saw Keith net the game winner in a 1-0 win over Vermont. The game was preceded by the first-ever university Homecoming Tailgate, which has remained a staple to this day.

September 1, 2009: A crowd of over 2,000 fans saw Binghamton rally for a 3-2 win over Syracuse in its season opener. Kyle Kucharski assisted on all three goals.

October 30, 2010: Tommy Klim's goal in double overtime led the Bearcats to a 1-0 win over New Hampshire on Senior Night. The win clinched a first-round home game in the America East Tournament.

October 30, 2011: In a game that was pushed back a day due to a freak snowstorm, Binghamton defeated eventually regular-season champion Boston University 5-1 on Senior Day.

September 29, 2012: Jake Keegan's biggest career goal at the Bearcats Sports Complex came in overtime against New Hampshire. The Bearcats defeated the Wildcats 2-1 in overtime.

October 12, 2013: Binghamton defeated UMass Lowell 3-0 on Homecoming Weekend. Before most of the crowd had found their seats, Ben Nicholson converted a free kick in the opening minutes and celebrating with a backflip. That flip instantly became the most popular photo from any university event during that Homecoming Weekend.

November 8, 2014: In the first (and to date, the only) penalty kick shootout in a men's soccer game at the Bearcats Sports Complex, the Bearcats outlasted Stony Brook in an America East quarterfinal game. The two squads played to a 1-1 draw but Robert Moewes made three saves in the decisive shootout. The clinching kick in the shootout was made by Bret Celeste, who is currently a volunteer assistant on the Binghamton staff.

October 24, 2015: Family Weekend led to the Bearcats' game against defending America East champion UMBC to be moved to the afternoon. A crowd of over 1,000 watched Binghamton remain in first place in the America East Conference with the 2-1 win.

So what will the best game of 2016 be?

Stay Tuned.

Match Preview

Click here to go to the Canisius match preview, which includes links to the live stats and live video.

Wishing Her All the Best

While the men's soccer team is ready to start its season, Friday night will be the final Binghamton event for one of our local TV reporters. Sarah Tranelli has been with WIVT for two years and she has been a top-notch journalist.

The local media has been very good to the men's soccer team over the years and Sarah has stood out as one of the best reporters we have worked with.

We wish her all the best in her next endeavor and hope the Bearcats can send her off with a W.

Reading List

Click here for the Pipe Dream Student Newspaper's preview of the men's soccer team's 2016 season. 

Looking Ahead

Tomorrow's entry will be posted after the Canisius match, as will Monday's entry after Binghamton's game at George Washington University.

Posted August 25, 2016 at 3:00 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu





AUGUST 24, 2016

Late Night at Binghamton

Judging by the title of this entry, you can tell it's been a long day on campus. Still, lots to go over tonight.

Say Cheese

Today was team photo day for the men's soccer team. Click here to see the completed roster, with the team photo and links to all of their head shots.

Let's Go Outback Tonight

Tuesday night, the men's soccer team went to Outback for their annual end-of-preseason dinner. It was the first time that they had descended upon the popular Vestal establishment as a group.

For the players, the dinner marked the end of a successful two weeks of training together.

"This is a great way to end preseason," junior Charlie Novoth said. "We really came together as a team. We are stronger and better than when we started and we made a step from the spring until now. This meal has brought us all together and it is the commencement of the past two weeks of training."

"It's a really good feeling right now," redshirt sophomore Isaiah Barrett said. "We really accomplished something this preseason, especially in our two scrimmages."

Besides steaks, Outback is famous for its onion blossoms – a fact that wasn't lost on the team. We asked them how many were consumed by the Bearcats at dinner.

"I think the players may have crushed six of them from what I can tell," head coach Paul Marco said.

"Too many to count," Barrett said. "But we won't be eating like this the night before the next game. It will be strictly veggies and fruit."

As the team left Outback following dinner, their thoughts switched to Friday night's season opener against Canisius at the Bearcats Sports Complex.

"All of the guys are ready for the start of the (regular) season," Psarras said. "We can't wait for the first game."

Reading List

TopDrawerSoccer previews the America East Conference. Click here to go to the story.

Elsewhere on Campus

As if the men's soccer team hadn't eaten enough, Wednesday evening was the athletic department's Welcome Back BBQ for all of the Binghamton student-athletes.

With the women's soccer team off to a 1-0-1 start, Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger has a request for the collective group of Bearcats.

"Let's everyone go undefeated the rest of the year."

Click here for a complete recap.

Posted August 24, 2016 at 9:30 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu
 
 


AUGUST 23, 2016

Senior Spotlight: Alex Varkatzas

Two-a-day practices are not something that student-athletes get sentimental about. Unless, of course, it is the last such time of their playing careers.

Following Tuesday morning's training session, senior Alex Varkatzas was in a reflective state of mind. It was the final official day of preseason and the final time he will train twice a day as a Bearcat.

"It's just hitting me a lot today that this is my last two-a-day," he said. "It's definitely a little emotional but I also realize that I have to take responsibility as a senior on the team, keep my head up and keep everybody going in the right direction."

Varkatzas and his fellow seniors have already made the most of responsibility within the team. Last year, with a very young team, their experience was a key factor in Binghamton's march to the America East title game.

"We had a lot a freshmen on the team and they were very talented," he said. "But as the older guys on the team, we had to show them the ropes and everything culminated well."

Like many of his fellow seniors, Varkatzas has been one to lead by example. One play in particular from last season spoke volumes about that trait.

With the Bearcats down 2-1 in the closing minutes of regulation in the America East quarterfinals at Stony Brook, Varkatzas rushed to clear a ball before it went over the end line. His pass went right to Nikkos Psarras, who promptly scored the game-tying goal. The Bearcats eventually won 3-2 in overtime. Without Varkatzas clearing the ball off the line, Binghamton's season may very well have ended.

"It was just a reaction to keep the ball in play," he recalled. "Part of every play is never to give up on anything. For that reason alone, you never know what is going to happen if you keep going."

Varkatzas is just as much of an example in the classroom. In April 2015, he was inducted into the National College Athlete Honor Society.

"Playing any sport at this level definitely helps you in the classroom," he said. "It gives you all of the right moral principles to do well in the classroom. We have a good coaching staff and (Student-Athlete Success Center staff members) Kristy (Bowers) and Linda (Reynolds) so this is definitely a good environment to do well."

Varkatzas is one of three seniors in the National College Athlete Honor Society. As a team, the Bearcats led all America East men's soccer squads with a 3.27 collective GPA during the 2015-16 academic year.

"We are all on the same page," he said. "You never want to be the guy on this team that isn't pulling their weight in the classroom."

Mike Kubik is a fellow senior who has known Varkatzas since the two were freshman. He has seen first-hand all of the traits that make Varkatzas the player and leader he is.

"Alex is a really good leader on the field who has grown a lot as a person off it," he said. "He's a big strong player and a very good target up front."

A 2013 graduate of Elmira High School, where he was an all-state player, Varkatzas has been able to make a smooth transition to the college game. It is something he attributes to Head Coach Paul Marco and his staff.  

"They do an excellent job," Varkatzas said. "Coach Marco always said he wants us to come in as 18 year olds and leave as men. I definitely agree with that and feel that they have helped me with my maturation process."

Varkatzas may be sentimental about his last two-a-day training sessions but as he looks ahead to the regular season, excitement is his primary emotion.

"I am really happy with what we look like right now," he said. "I can easily say in my three years here that this is the best preseason we have had. It's definitely great moving forward into the games that actually matter."

Posted August 23, 2016 at 2 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




AUGUST 22, 2016

Wrapping Up Preseason

This marks the final week of preseason and opening week of the regular season. We caught up with head coach Paul Marco following training on Monday afternoon.

Click here for the interview, which is on Facebook Live.

A Familiar Face

Pascal Trappe may completed his Binghamton career but he is still on campus, completing his master's degree in public administration. On Monday afternoon, we caught up with him preparing for some the events for the incoming freshman class.

Trappe said that he has heard good things from the team on how preseason has gone so far. He misses being a part of the program but still is close to many of the current players.

On a down note, Trappe was disappointed that his German national team lost the Olympic Gold Medal game to Brazil in penalty. Two years ago, he sent us a photo of he and his brother celebrating in the streets of Berlin after Germany won the World Cup.

Up In the Air

As of today, Coach Marco has yet to hold the Bearcat Open, nor has he decided on a place to have the team's end-of-preseason dinner. The dinner has been held at Fuji Sahn the past few years but Marco said there might be a venue change.

Stay tuned.

Social Media Update

Starting this season, we are going to be tweeting all updates for men's soccer on the team page as opposed to the main athletic department page. This includes all in-game updates and final scores as well as honors (the biggest highlights of the season will also be posted on the main athletic department twitter page.

Click here to access the Binghamton men's soccer Twitter page.

Elsewhere on Campus

Kudos to the women's soccer team and first-year head coach Neel Bhattacharjee for going 1-0-1 during its opening week of the season.

Click here for the recap of yesterday's 1-0 win at Niagara.

Posted August 22, 2016 at 4:30 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




AUGUST 17-19, 2016

Staying in the Game

Head Coach Paul Marco and assistants Lou Liberatore and Tommy Moon are no strangers to the Binghamton program. Marco has been at the helm since 2002 while Moon is in his seventh year with the program (five as a player, two as a coach) and Liberatore is in his third season.

There is another familiar face who has joined the coaching staff this year – Bret Celeste. He will be the program's volunteer assistant this season.

Celeste joined the program as a freshman in 2011. He battled injuries early on but was a consistent starter the past two season. During that stretch, Binghamton reached the America East semifinals in 2014 and the title game last year.

Coach Marco considers it an easy decision to keep Celeste on board.

"Bret was a terrific competitor and a great player," he said. "He is going to make a terrific coach someday. He gained people's respect by his work ethic and the older guys remember what Bret was like out there on the field."

Celeste is currently in graduate school at Binghamton University. He is working towards his master's degree in public administration. Although his athletic eligibility has been used up, he has enjoyed his time on the coaching staff so far.

"I wanted to get involved as much as I can," he said. "I love it here and I can learn a lot from Paul, Lou and Tommy. I am extremely grateful to be given this opportunity to come back and join the staff."

One advantage Celeste has in relating to the players as a coach is that the team remains very young.

"Last season, we had such a young team so a lot of the guys saw me as a leader," he said. "The older guys on the team who I played with a lot longer also seemed to heed my advice. This year, we also had a pretty big (freshman) class."

Celeste was one of several players on the team who were part of the National College Athlete Honor Society. He sees many reasons why the men's soccer team has been able to excel in the classroom."

"The type of player we bring in has a lot to do with it," he said. "The (Student-Athlete Success Center) staff and the coaching staff always make it a priority to keep academics first."

The Bearcat Open
The men's soccer team is scheduled to play its annual Bearcat Open on Thursday afternoon. Since Marco become the head coach, the squad has ventured out to a nine-hole course for an afternoon of bonding on the links. It's been a chance to take a break from the rigors of two-a-day training sessions while getting to know each other better.

With the skill level ranging from experienced to absolute novice, some of the shots have been memorable in a not-so-good way. Two years ago, for instance, a player lost both his ball AND club in the pond by the first hole.

Coach Marco has been very careful in choosing his team of four players. His quartet has one all but one of the previous Bearcat Opens. When we asked him if it was tougher to make his golf team or the soccer program, his answer left no doubt.

"Definitely it's harder to be a part of my golf team," he said. "I look for someone to fill the gaps where I am not very good."

This year, the Bearcat Open may have a change in venue.

"Final details are in the works," Marco said. "But we may add some (miniature golf) windmills in there. It's up in the air right now."

Celeste has been teamed up with Coach Marco on several occasions, most recently at the Binghamton Athletic Departments Annual Golf Tournament in June.

"No question Bret will be on my team Thursday," Marco said.

Deleted Scenes

One question we asked Charlie Novoth yesterday that did not make it in the post:

He told us how he is working in the marketing office of the athletic department this year and how he likes selling things.

When Novoth was asked if he would be able to sell some of the Bearcat Season Ticket Scarves, he laughed and said he could.

Elsewhere on Campus

In addition to the two soccer teams, the Binghamton volleyball team has been back on campus getting set for the upcoming season.

Click here for its preseason media day coverage.

This weekend, the women's soccer team kicks off its season with matches at St. Bonaventure (Friday) and Niagara (Sunday).

Click here for its season preview.

Beach Bound

As you now doubt noticed, we have multiple dates for this entry. That's because we are taking a last-minute vacation to an undisclosed beach the next four days.

From what we have seen and reported so far, the Bearcats are in good shape at this point of preseason.

We hope the length of today's post makes up for our absence on Thursday and Friday.

Check back on Monday for a complete wrap up on the second week of preseason.

Posted on August 17, 2016 at 5 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghatmon.edu
 



AUGUST 16, 2016

Co-Captains' Corner: Charlie Novoth

Last year, Charlie Novoth's season was over before the first ball was kicked off. After fighting through injuries his freshman and sophomore years, the decision was made to redshirt in 2015.

This year, things are different for Novoth. Very different. He is fully healthy again and joins Zach Galluzzo as one of the Bearcats' co-captains.

"It feels like a breath of fresh air since I've been playing again," he said. "Being out for so long, I had to show everyone I could still play. The boys did very well last year and I wanted to show that I could still be a part of it."

Novoth did not have much to prove to head coach Paul Marco. He knew what kind of player and person Novoth was.

"We missed Charlie last year," he said. "He is one of the more consistent and competitive guys on the team. It's a joy to see him back in training and playing."

Although he wasn't on the field last year, Novoth still studied each game from on the sidelines. It gave him a different perspective for when he returned at the start of preseason.

"When I wasn't playing, I was able to see the formations and how everything is played," he said. "I watched the right back (his position) thoughout a match. You learn a lot from watching the games."

Novoth may be one of the two co-captains for the Bearcats this season but he views the team as being full of leaders.

"When I was a freshman, Robbie Hughes was the team captain and had a great way of being a leader," he said. "But our team has changed a lot since them. Because we have come so close to winning (the America East title) more and more people are stepping up to lead. We have even had some of our younger guys start to come through the (leadership) ranks."

Novoth and Galluzzo are the polar opposites in terms of leading the team. Novoth takes after Hughes' vocal role whereas Galluzzo is more the type to lead by example. Still, the two teammates have an excellent relationship.

"Zach and I couldn't be more opposite but I wouldn't want it any other way," Novoth said. "We work off each other very well and I think it's just a great partnership."

Novoth hopes to play professional after graduating from Binghamton but he has started to explore other avenues. He currently works as an intern for the Athletic Department, with the External Advancement Office – which oversees all marketing efforts.

"Marketing is very big in my life," he said. "I like to get out there and promote things. In my life, I think it would be really cool to get out there and try and sell something."

Although Novoth has another year of eligibility remaining, he is very close with the current senior class.

"We have all become very close and are very focused on the season," he said. "All of us have grown a lot as players and we realize that this year is our final time as a group."

Posted August 16, 2016 at 2 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu
 
 


AUGUST 15, 2016

Week Two Begins

The men's soccer team is now into its second week of preseason training. After Monday's second session, we caught up with seniors Mike Kubik and Alex Varkatzas to talk about the progress of the team.

Click here to go to the Facebook Live video feed.

Now On Sale

For the third year in a row, the Binghamton athletic department will be selling a season ticket scarf, which will serve as the admission ticket for all men's and women's soccer regular-season home games.

Click here for more details.

When we talked to Coach Marco earlier today, he mentioned how some of the alumni players from overseas wanted to pay for a scarf and have them shipped to them. They might not be able to make the games but the scarf still appears to be worth the price.

Speaking of the Women's Soccer Team

The Binghamton women's soccer team, under the direction of first-year head coach Neel Bhattacharjee, has been back on campus for nearly two weeks. The program starts its season on Friday at St. Bonaventure.

Click here to go to coverage of their preseason media day.

Coach Bhattacharjee arrives from Syracuse, where he was the recruiting coordinator.

Click here for an in-depth interview with him.

Press Clippings

For the second straight year, we have a page on our website which will have the links to all of the media coverage of the men's soccer team this season. This page will be the third story on the men's soccer team page. It will follow the top story and the Daily Update.

Click here to access that page if you have not seen it already.

Posted August 15, 2016 at 8:30 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu
 
 


AUGUST 13, 2016

A Dedication

Our scheduled posts for the Men's Soccer Daily Update are every Monday-Friday. If there is a big game over the weekend or if something else comes up, however, we'll post it on that Saturday or Sunday.
 
Today's Saturday post is more personal in nature although it does indirectly relate to the Binghamton men's soccer program. While I don't usually interject myself into the posts, today is an exception.
 
Everyone in sports remembers the first famous person in their profession that they met. One can only hope that person was as sincere away from the limelight as they appear to be when everyone was watching.
 
For Binghamton head coach Paul Marco, one of those people was legendary UConn soccer coach Joe Marrone.
 
When Marrone passed away last year, Coach Marco shared with us the first time he met him in 1996. He came away seeing Marrone as fantastic away from the spotlight and as someone who shaped his current career. Coach Marco's custom of wearing a tie on game days came partially from Marrone, who did the same during his long and distinguished career.
 
Fortunately for me, the first time I met a famous media person was just as significant an experience.
 
It was the summer of 1980 and I was 10 years old growing up in Maryland. My mother had promised to take my sister and I to our first Major League Baseball game that August. That meant heading to the old Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, where the Orioles played. I was a big fan of that team, which had played in the World Series the previous season.
 
My mom agreed on August 2, 1980 as the day we went to see the Orioles. A few weeks before the game, however, she found out some very interesting news. The secretary where she worked said her brother was Tom Marr, one of the Orioles' radio announcers. I knew who Tom Marr was, having listened to all of the team's games on the radio.
 
My mom's colleague got a hold of Tom, knowing we were planning on going to the August 2 game. He arranged for us to have special seats right behind home plate—but that was just the beginning. About a half hour before the game, Tom stopped by our seats to introduce himself and give me an autographed photo of star pitcher Jim Palmer.
 
For those of you soccer fans out there, imagine your mother worked with Ian Darke and he gave you front row seats to a World Cup game. Now imagine Ian coming up to say hello with an autographed photo of Ronaldo. Yes, it was that big for me.
 
Tom talked to us for a couple of minutes and when I asked what was written on his yellow notepad, he said he was on his way down to interview Orioles manager Earl Weaver for the pregame show and had a list of questions.
 
Wow.
 
In between talking with a pair of people who would eventually be in the Baseball Hall of Fame (Palmer and Weaver), Tom made time to visit with our family. He was very friendly, especially considering he had a broadcast to start shortly. You would hardly know he was famous in the Baltimore area given how down to earth he was.
 
This past July 5, Tom died of a stroke at the age of 73. At the time, he was still the host of his own radio show. In recent weeks, Tom had broadcasted from Ocean City, Maryland as a way of connecting with his audience on a more personal level. He seemed nowhere close to retirement.
 
The testimonies that poured in followed Tom's passing reflected just how significant and respected a journalist and person he was. Roger Neel, our colleague at WNBF told me how highly people were talking about Tom when they found out he died.
 
Like Coach Marco, I was very fortunate to meet a distinguished professional when I was much younger. And like Coach Marco, I have a deeper appreciation of that meeting now that Tom has passed away.
 
While I am not a broadcaster like Tom was, I still have been involved in the sports media industry for close to two decades. This is my 17th year at Binghamton and my 15th year of working with Coach Marco and the Bearcat men's soccer program.
 
Writing the Men's Soccer Daily Update -- which I have done the past eight seasons -- has been among the most enjoyable and fulfilling parts of my job. It has given me the chance to connect with the program on a deeper level and to share those stories with you.
 
So it is with heartfelt emotion that I am dedicating this year's Men's Soccer Daily Update to the memory of Tom Marr. I do so with the hope that I can attain the same high level of professionalism and respect in my media field as he did in his.
 
Check back on Monday to see how the Bearcats are doing in the second week of preseason.

Posted August 13, 2016 at 8:00 a.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu



AUGUST 12, 2016

Co-Captain's Corner: Zach Galluzzo

By his own admission, Zach Galluzzo hadn't counted on being a team leader when he arrived on campus three years ago. He didn't consider himself to be a vocal person. But as the Bearcats start their 2016 preseason, Galluzzo is one of their co-captains and is their most accomplished returning player.

After appearing in just three games his freshman season and starting in eight contests the following year, Galluzzo was a full-time starter in 2015. More than that, he was a first-team all-conference defender and was second on the squad with four goals and nine total points.

Off the field, Galluzzo is a member of the National College Athlete Honor Society and is enrolled in the Watson School of Engineering. On a team that led the America East with the highest men's soccer team GPA last year, Galluzzo has been one of its most successful student-athletes.

Simply put, Galluzzo has come a long way on the field in three years but even more so in terms of being a leader.

"I never really have been a person to take charge and command everyone," he said. "My ability to change and become a leader has something I have learned the past three years."

Fortunately for Galluzzo, he had just the player to learn from when he was a freshman. Robbie Hughes was a senior back and the unquestioned leader of the Bearcats. He earned the America East Male Sportsmanship Award for the 2013-14 academic year.

"Robbie was my idol (in regard to) leadership," he said. "He was loud but very reassuring and always knew how to get the guys going. He knew how to get the best out of everyone and was a great role model in all aspects."

Hughes graduated in the spring of 2014 but Galluzzo began to become more of an integral part of the team. His sophomore year was highlighted by a game-tying goal against Hartford in the America East semifinals. It was the first goal of Galluzzo's collegiate career but was bittersweet as the Bearcats lost that game in overtime.

"That goal definitely helped my confidence but was kind of a double-edged sword because we lost the game," he said. "The next year, I came back looking for more (scoring chances) because I finally knew I could do it."

When Galluzzo returned as a junior, the dynamics of the Binghamton program had changed. A large senior class had graduated in the spring of 2015. While the Bearcats had a young and promising freshmen class, there was a definite need in leadership that veterans like Galluzzo needed to fill.

"Coming in my junior year, I knew we looked really good because we had a lot of good freshmen," he said. "But with so many young players, it kind of forced my class to get everyone on the same page."

By that time, however, Galluzzo had caught the eye of head coach Paul Marco. In addition to its captains, the Bearcats have a leadership group, which is chosen by the coaches. Galluzzo was named to the leadership group prior to the 2015 season.
"Zach was a growing force on the team," Marco said. "He had a great personality, was a fierce competitor and was one of the guys we had come to rely on."

Galluzzo may have become a growing force on the team but in the classroom, he excelled from moment he arrived on campus three years ago.

"I really try and stay on top of things but we also have a bunch of great resources here (at Binghamton)," he said. "Our (Student-Athlete) Success Center is great and our coaches will always point us in the right direction. They make it clear that we are here to be students first."

One teammate Galluzzo credits for his academic success is fellow senior Mike Kubik. He too is in the Watson School of Engineering and is also a member of the National College Athlete Honor Society.

"I got a little lucky with Mike in my same major," he said. "We are always helping each other out in case we forget something and we keep each other going."

To the rest of the team, however, luck has very little to do with Galluzzo's academic success.

"Since he is an engineering major, I see how hard he has to work," junior teammate Charlie Novoth said. "He studies a lot when he is not training and really balances everything great."

Novoth is the other co-captain on the Bearcats and his personality is quite different than that of Galluzzo. The two of them have enjoyed the balance.

"We play off of each other," Galluzzo said. "I like to lead by example while Charlie is the vocal one. We both have built ourselves up in good ways and I am very excited that we are both captains. I think it's going to work very well this year."

"Zach is a great guy," Novoth said. "Not only is he one of my best friends but he does things on the field that amaze all of us. He works really hard and is great to be around."

"Let's Go To The Videotape"

Those were the immortal words of legendary sportscaster Warner Wolf. That phrase will continue to set the stage for any video clips that we post on the Men's Soccer Daily Update in 2016.

Click here for WBNG TVs coverage of Thursday's preseason media day. 

Click here for FOX 40's coverage. 

WIVT has a preseason report on both the Binghamton men's and women's soccer teams. Click here to access it.

Scheduling Note

The Men's Soccer Daily Update is posted every Monday through Friday with occasional weekend posts. We have something ready for tomorrow, so stay tuned.

Posted August 12, 2016 at 4 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




AUGUST 11, 2016

Meet the Press

On Thursday afternoon, head coach Paul Marco along with Zach Galluzzo, Charlie Novoth and Logan Roberts met with the local press as part of the Bearcats' annual Preseason Media Day.

The entire video is up on Facebook live. Click here to access it.

Click here for a photo gallery from today's event.

Turning Up the Heat

Unlike the first day of preseason training, the weather lived up to its August billing on Thursday morning. A sweltering heat made the conditions more challenging.

Still the Bearcats were pleased with how they progressed.

"I thought we had a very good morning session," head coach Paul Marco said. "It was a little hotter and dryer than yesterday but I thought we did quite well."

"Day two was very impressive," Novoth said. "The fitness test went very well and even though it was hotter than yesterday, we were pleased."

Reading List

The America East released its preseason men's soccer poll, which has the Bearcats tied for fifth. Last year, however, Binghamton was picked seventh but advanced all the way to the conference title game.

Click here for the complete release.

Coming Up Next

Throughout the season, we will feature many of the Bearcat players. We'll start tomorrow with Galluzzo.

Posted on August 11, 2016 at 4 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




AUGUST 10, 2016

First Day On The Field

It was hardly a typical first day of preseason—weather wise at least.

Instead of the sweltering 90 degree heat, the Bearcats woke up to a steady rain on Wednesday morning. When they went out on the field around 9 a.m., the rain had stopped but the sky was still overcast.

Not that the team had a problem with it.

"I like to play in the rain so this morning was pretty good," sophomore Karamo Diaby said. "So the weather wasn't a bad thing at all."

"It's definitely easier on the guys," senior Mike Kubik said. "There is not at much heat and humidity so it helped out, especially since today was the fitness test."

The 18 returning veterans got to play for the first time with the incoming freshman class. The first impression was favorable.

"They are looking good," Kubik said. "We played this morning on the full field and a lot of guys showed what they are about. They weren't afraid to show what kind of players they are and that was nice to see."

Kubik and Diaby each have a different outlook heading into this season. Kubik is one of five seniors on the squad while Diaby was a rookie in 2015.

"It's definitely special," Kubik said. "I definitely want to win a trophy or two my last time around."

"It's much easier this time around," Diaby said. "I know what to expect and what I should and should not do out on the field. Last preseason, everything was new to me."

Next on Deck

On Thursday afternoon, head coach Paul Marco will be joined by Zach Galluzzo, Charlie Novoth and Logan Roberts at the men's and women's soccer team's annual Preseason Media Day.

Check back tomorrow for a complete wrap up.

Social Media Update

For those of you who are new, we have a variety of social media platforms that cover the Binghamton men's soccer team as well as the Bearcat athletic program as a whole.

Click on each link to be directed to the respective sites:

Facebook (Binghamton Bearcats)
Twitter (BU_Bearcats)
Instagram (binghamtonathletics)
YouTube (BinghamtonAthletics)

In addition, we are on SnapChat under BingAthletics

Posted on August 10, 2016 at 4:30 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




AUGUST 9, 2016

Moving On In

The Bearcat men's soccer team returned to campus on Tuesday morning to begin preseason. After meeting in the lobby of the Events Center, the first traditional event of preseason took place – the upperclassmen helping the freshmen move in.

The nerves for any newcomer are to be expected. Although they are veterans now, several Binghamton upperclassmen remember feeling such their first day of preseason when they were freshmen. The veterans helping them move in was the first step in their transition.

"The first day is always stressful for freshman so it's nice that the upperclassmen help them move in," senior Logan Roberts said. "I really appreciated it when I first got here."

"It meant a lot to me when I was a freshman," redshirt sophomore Isaiah Barrett said. "I was really surprised to see the upperclassmen helping us out as much as they did. I hope to be an example to this group (of freshmen) as they were to me."

After everyone had moved into the dorms, it was time for a full day of meetings with the coaching staff and athletic administration. Although the Bearcats won't be on the field until Wednesday morning, being back together as a team was something they were very happy about.

"It's great to be back," Barrett said. "All of us have put in a lot of hard work over the summer. We've missed each other and we are excited to see how we do out on the field."

Live on Facebook

Head coach Paul Marco started off Tuesday morning at the WNBF radio station for an in-studio interview with morning host Roger Neel.

Click here for the video of the interview on Facebook Live.

Snow in the Summer?

On his interview with Roger Neel, Coach Marco stated the the team would gather for a snowball fight in the early afternoon. That took Neel for a suprise given the temperature outside.

We found out later that the snowball fight was a team ice breaker in which each player writes something on a piece of paper about themselves that people may not know about. They then crumple it up into a ball (hence the snowball reference), throw it within the room and have another player pick it up. From there, the team had to guess who wrote each statement.

Let's hope that will be the only snow this season.

Bearcats in the Pros

As we do each season, we track how our men's soccer alums are doing in the professional ranks. As many of you many know, 2013 alum Jake Keegan is a standout striker for F.C. Edmonton of the North America East Soccer League (NASL).

As of today, F.C. Edmonton is tied for first place in the NASL and Keegan leads the squad with five goals.

Click here to read more about Keegan on the F.C. Edmonton website.

Posted August 9, 2016 at 5:10 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu




AUGUST 8, 2016

Introduction

Hello everyone, and welcome to Year Nine of the Binghamton Men's Soccer Daily Update.

We started this blog back in 2008 in the hopes of capturing the Bearcat program in a way that goes beyond the box scores. Since then, it has become one of the most read sections of the athletic department's website each year.

This year, we will once again feature the players, coaching staff, alums and other people affiliated with the men's soccer program. We'll link to relevant articles and media interviews and post photos and videos of our own.

The 2015 campaign saw the Bearcats advance to the America East title game. Off the field, Binghamton had the highest team GPA among all of the men's soccer program's in the America East this past academic year. The stage is therefore set for another successful year.

We hope that the Men's Soccer Daily Update continues to be a significant source of information throughout the season for all of you.

Tomorrow, Binghamton reports back to campus to begin preseason. We will be on hand.

Programing Note

Head coach Paul Marco will be interviewed live, in studio on Roger Neel's WBNF Morning Show on Tuesday at 8:35 a.m.

Click here to listen live.

Posted August 8, 2016 at 9 a.m.
Feedback can be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu