NEWARK, N.J. – Matthew Keegan recorded a career-high nine points, including five goals as the Binghamton men's lacrosse team (3-5, 1-1 America East) defeated New Jersey Institute of Technology (7-2, 0-2 America East) 17-12 Saturday at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.
 
Keegan tied his season high with five goals against the Highlanders, while adding a career-high four assists. Gage Adams scored a season-high four times against his former team, while Ethan Insinga scored his first hat trick of the season. Binghamton's 17 goals against NJIT are also the most the team has scored in a game this season.
 
"We played inspired lacrosse today on our way to a great team win," said Binghamton Head Coach Kevin McKeown. "I thought we did a better job of taking care of the ball in the second half, in addition to bouncing back at the faceoff X. Matthew Keegan did a very good job of controlling the offense and led us to our highest goal total of the year."
 
The makings of a shootout on offense were shown early in the first quarter. Both teams traded each of the first nine goals scored in the game. Insinga acquired his hat trick in the quarter, while Adams scored twice and Matthew Keegan scored once. The Bearcats would finish the opening frame ahead 6-4.
 
Both defenses began to lock down in the second quarter, with there only being a combined five goals in the frame. The Highlanders scored twice in the span of seven seconds with tallys from Benjamin Roberts and Arthur Miller to tie the game at six with 14:10 remaining in the half. Keegan put the Bearcats back ahead with his second goal of the game at the 6:59 mark. That would be the only strike of the quarter for Binghamton, with NJIT getting two more goals courtesy of Garrett Muscatella and Ryan Sininsky to enter halftime up 8-7. Connor Winters would finish the first half with eight saves.
 
The Bearcats' offense shifted into its next gear in the third quarter. Keegan assisted the opening goal of the frame by Adams at 13:55. That goal gave Adams his second hat trick of the season. After the Highlanders got a goal back, Keegan, Thomas Kelly and Colin DeLay each scored. Binghamton's defense would hold NJIT to two goals in the period, as the Bearcats went into the fourth quarter up 13-10.
 
The defense for Binghamton would keep up the pressure by duplicating its performance in the fourth quarter and keeping the Highlanders to another two goals. Keegan, Adams and Ferris would each score one more time in the final quarter. Meanwhile, freshman Andrew Girolamo scored his first collegiate goal at 6:33 to help the Bearcats earn their first win in America East play.
 
Other Highlights

• Aside from goals, Binghamton also set season-high totals in assists (8) and points (25).
• Girolamo also assisted Keegan's fourth goal of the game near the end of the third quarter to help him finish with two points in only his second collegiate game.
• Lorenzo Ramos caused three turnovers and collected two ground balls. His three caused turnovers are the most by a Binghamton player this season. It also tied a career high that he set during his freshman season in 2022, when he caused three turnovers against UMBC on March 26.
• Winters finished the game with 15 saves, extending his streak of games with at least 10 to eight. He also collected a team-high five ground balls, tying a career high he previously set on March 11, 2023 against Fairfield.

 
Up Next
Binghamton hosts UMass-Lowell on Saturday, March 30 at noon.