When Chris Hayen and Jen Fiorentino attended a men's basketball game in the winter of 2010, they had little idea it would be a pivotal moment in their lives. He was the starting goalkeeper on the Binghamton men's soccer team. She was a defensive specialist on the volleyball squad. They each were there to support a mutual friend, Taylor Johnston, who was playing for the men's basketball team. They did not, however, come to the game with each other.  

"I had a busy afternoon filled with practice and class, and then ran from class to meet my teammate Alex Roland and go to the basketball game together," Fiorentino recalled. "Chris happened to be with her and we were introduced as we all walked to the game together."
Fiorentino may not have known Hayen, but the opposite was truer than she knew.

"Jen didn't know who I was," he recalled, "But, I had a little crush on her from seeing her around campus."

The first impression Fiorentino had of Hayen remains etched in her memory.

"Once we got to the game, I remember quickly asking Chris to quickly hold the poster I made," she said. "Then he proceeded to playfully hit me with it as he sprinted away with it. That was my first impression of Chris... he was a total goofball."
Hayen may have run off with the poster, but that was not the last that Fiorentino saw of him.

"After the game, we ran into each briefly the following weekend," she said. "But, the third time we met was the charm. It's actually funny, even though Chris is so outgoing, when he saw me he would not come talk to me and he actually asked my roommate, Julie Chambers, to get me to talk to him."

"Our friendship developed in both of our off-seasons, but it was the spring of 2011, where we had time to really get to know each other," Hayen said. "We had a lot of mutual friends and would always hang out together in between classes, practices, and on weekends. Our personalities just clicked and I think after a short time we realized we shared so many things in common, everything together was just effortless."

In the fall of 2011, the men's soccer and volleyball teams were back in session. Hayen and Fiorentino became a strong source of support for each other.

"We supported each on both on and off the court and field," Hayen said. "We would attend each other's games, were there to lend support for a loss and there to celebrate the wins. Over the summers we would work out together to get ready for our season and fitness tests. Our families would attend many of our games, so we were able to get to know each other on a different level and we even met each other's parents pretty early on."

The two of them also supported each other in the classroom.  

"We made each other stronger academically," Fiorentino said. "We would study together and motivated each other to apply for internships. We knew our time at Binghamton was limited and had to start planning our careers after BU. I was able to land a few magazine writing internships in New York City and Chris interned with the Binghamton University Police Department."

As similar as Hayen and Fiorentino were in terms of interests, it was their different personalities that cemented their relationship.

"Chris taught me to not take life or myself too seriously and how to laugh off the little things," Fiorentino said. "Instead of fearing possible failure Chris helped me learn how to enjoy the journey and the self-growth that comes with it."

"Jen always seemed to be able to keep me calm, Hayen said. "When I played, I was very passionate and would wear my heart on my sleeve. Jen has been able to truly make me grow as a person."

Since Fiorentino graduated a year before Hayen, they were apart during the 2012-13 academic year, but their relationship continued to blossom and they were eventually back in the same town again.

"Since we were academically one year apart, Chris finished up his senior year at Binghamton, while I attended graduate school to obtain a Master of Science at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism in New York City," Fiorentino said. "Upon graduation, I accepted a position in the New York State Senate's Communications Office and we packed our bags and moved to Albany."

Hayen considered coaching after college, but he had a dream that was eventually realized nearly five years later.

"I was offered numerous Division 1 goal keeping coaching positions, but ultimately I accepted an offer to work for Elon Musk's Solar City in Albany so we could start our lives together," Hayen  said. "Four years later, I finally received the call I was waiting for – an offer to attend the Suffolk County Police Academy on Long Island. Without hesitation, we again packed our bags and moved to Long Island so I could pursue my dream of becoming a police officer. Six months later, I was sworn in at Stony Brook University to protect and serve."

A year before Hayen landed his dream job, he and Fiorentino were married on Sept, 6, 2015 in Gilbertsville, New York. Many of their teammates and friends, including some who were at the men's basketball game five years earlier, were on hand for the event.

"We had a whole Bearcat crew support us on our big day," Fiorentino said. "From our soccer and volleyball teammates, our coaches, academic advisors, to our athletic trainers Noel Zeh and Will Dunn, we were surrounded by people who helped and guided us through our athletic careers at Binghamton.

"When the photographer and videographers took our Binghamton group photo, all the soccer alums started singing our anthem – "Bearcat 'Til I Die," Hayen said "It was such a memorable moment."

Hayen and Fiorentino are now settled in Long Island. While he continues work with the police force, she works for Long Island Power Authority in the public relations and communications department, and before that was Senator Phil Boyle's Director of Communications. They are expecting their first child this coming July.

Much has change in their lives since they met at that men's basketball game nearly nine years ago. But the love and admiration they have for each other has not.

"Jen really lets me be me, which isn't an easy feat," Hayen said. "She has always encouraged me to follow my dream of being a police officer. She tells me every night that she 'has my six' and that I better come home safe. How much she truly cares for me, is something that means a lot."

"Chris has so many wonderful qualities, that's why I married him," Fiorentino said. "If I had to pick one, it would be that Chris taught me to not take life or myself too seriously. And, my husband has no shame — this was pretty evident when he ran away with my poster the day we met. He's the biggest goofball I've ever met, and I've come to adore every moment of it... even when he shouts "Marco" is the middle of the grocery store when he can't find me, and I happily reply back "Polo." I've definitely became shame-resilient."

Hayen and Fiorentino are starting a family in Long Island, but there is another family that they remain deeply thankful for.

"We truly developed a family at Binghamton and are so thankful that all those special people that remain part of our lives," Fiorentino said. We love and cherish our Bearcat family dearly."

PLEASE NOTE: Wedding photos courtesy of Elena Wolfe Photography