VESTAL, N.Y. – Freshman forward
Ethan Homler scored twice in the first half, lifting Binghamton to a 2-1 victory over Columbia (3-4-1) in a non-conference men's soccer match on Tuesday night at the Bearcats Sports Complex. The victory is the Bearcats' first over the Lions in six tries and improves their home record to 3-2-1 on the season.
Homler's goals, which were the first two of his collegiate career, came within a two-minute span midway through the first half. In the 29th minute, he lobbed the ball over a charging Columbia goalkeeper (Michael Collodi) to make it 1-0. Two minutes later, Holmer was in the right place at the right time, getting a rebound off the cross bar and firing it into the net. Both goals were unassisted.
Columbia came right back in the 32nd minute to trim the deficit to 2-1. Sebastain Gunbeyi finished off a cross from Matthew Swain to record his third goal of the season.
Binghamton was able to protect the lead the rest of the game. Freshman goalkeeper
P.J. Parker made a pair of saves – including one from close range in the 84th minute, to record his first collegiate victory.
"I thought our guys came out pretty well tonight," head coach
Paul Marco said. "It was great for Ethan to score two terrific goals. I thought we took our foot off the pedal when they got their goal back. But overall, our guys did a good job going forward with the ball. Our two forwards and three backs all did a good job today."
Homler is the second Binghamton player this season to record a two-goal game. Junior midfielder
Noah Luescher did the same in the season opener against Drexel on Aug. 30.
The Bearcats held a 9-7 edge in total shots and a 4-3 advantage in shots on goal.
Binghamton resumes America East play on Saturday at Vermont with a 7 p.m. match.
NOTES: Homler is the first Binghamton freshman to record a two-goal game since Luke Halberg against Penn State back on Sept. 12, 2010. He is just the third freshman during Binghamton's 19-year NCAA Division I era to score twice. Graham Munro netted two goals -- both on penalty kicks -- against Stony Brook on Oct. 23, 2002.
