STORY LINES
- Binghamton (3-0-2) beat host Northern Illinois 1-0 in the opening round on Friday night. Junior midfielder
Ben Ovetsky netted the game-winning goal in the 29th minute. In the process, the Bearcats recorded their second straight shutout and third of the year.
- Loyola-Chicago (4-0-0) beat No. 12 Utah Valley 2-0 in the other first-round game at the NIU/adidas Invitational. Earlier in the season, the Ramblers defeated America East foe Albany 3-0. Entering the match against Binghamton, they have three consecutive shutout victories.
- The Bearcats are unbeaten through their first five opening matches for the first time since 2007. They won each of those games by a 1-0 margin.
- Sophomore midfielder
Miles Burbank has scored a team-best two goals so far this year. Fellow sophomore midfielder
Harrison Weilbacher has a goal and an assist. Of the Bearcats' seven goals this season, six different players have found the back of the net.
- Defensively, redshirt freshman
Alejandro Cubillo has three solo shutouts so far this season. He has been assisted by the starting backline of senior
Zach Galluzzo, redshirt junior
Charlie Novoth, sophomore
Kevin Flesch and redshirt freshman
Stephen McKenna. Overall, the Bearcat defense is surrendering just 0.55 goals per game.
