STORY LINES
- Binghamton (6-8-3) returns to the America East Tournament for the first time since 2016. The Bearcats are 9-8-7 all time in the conference playoffs with the seven ties going to penalty kick shootouts. Binghamton has won five of those seven shootouts.
- Hartford (10-4-4) also returns to the postseason for the first time since 2016, when it advanced to the finals. The Hawks have won their past two games to nail down the No. 3 seed.
- Binghamton is at Hartford for the second Saturday in a row. The Hawks won 1-0 last week on a goal by Nyrik Antoine in the 45th minute. In goal, Jimmy Slayton made a career-high 11 saves.
- In its most recent appearance in the America East Tournament, the Bearcats lost 2-1 in overtime at Vermont in the 2016 quarterfinals. Binghamton's last playoff victory was a 1-0 semifinal triumph at Albany in 2017.
- Binghamton and Hartford square off in the America East Tournament for the fourth time. Hartford has won two of the previous three meetings. Most recently, the Hawks took a 2-1 overtime home decision in the 2014 semifinals. The year prior to that, they won 1-0 in overtime – also at Hartford -- in the quarterfinals. The Bearcats' win came in the 2003 semifinals as they won 1-0 on a penalty kick by Graham Munro at the old West Gym Field.
- Binghamton won the America East Tournament title in 2003 and 2006. It has also made the finals in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2015.
- Junior midfielder
Noah Luescher continues to lead the Bearcats with five goals and 12 total points so far this season. Freshman forward
Oliver Svalander ranks second with three goals and seven total points.
- The Hawks have balanced scoring with three players having scored three goals. Antoine, however, has scored the game-winning goal in each of the last two matches. He has two goals, two assists and six total points this season.
