VESTAL, N.Y. – For the second season in a row, the Binghamton men's lacrosse team scored 21 goals in a game, tying the program record in the process, as the Bearcats defeated the University of Maryland, Baltimore County 21-10 Saturday at the Bearcats Sports Complex.
 
In a battle of two teams in first place in the America East Conference, the Bearcats' offense shined in the pouring rain. Andrew Girolamo, Liam Ferris and Matthew Keegan each scored four goals for Binghamton, with Girolamo's four tallies being a career high for the freshman. Gage Adams also scored three goals for the second-straight game. Additionally, Nick Cartmill scored the first goal of his collegiate career in the fourth quarter.
 
This was the first game for both Ross Chazanow and Connor Winters were named Faceoff Specialist of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week respectively by the America East. Both players carried their momentum into Saturday's game, with Chazanow winning 20 out of 32 faceoffs while adding a goal, an assist and a career-high 12 ground balls. Winters made 13 saves, caused a turnover and collected a ground ball.
 
"I'm proud of the effort our team displayed today on our home field," said Binghamton Head Coach Kevin McKeown. "Ross [Chazanow] and Connor [Winters] did a great job controlling the middle of the field and we were moving the ball well offensively. Our seniors have done a great job leading our team in the right direction, and we look forward to honoring them on Senior Day next week!"
 
The game started as a back-and-forth contest between the two teams. Binghamton would end the first quarter up 4-3 after two goals from Keegan as well as one each from Jack Mellen and Ethan Insinga. Winters and the Binghamton defense would step up in the second quarter by only allowing one goal on 10 shots. Meanwhile, the Bearcats extended their lead to 9-4 with two goals by Adams, two by Girolamo and one by Keegan to complete his first half hat trick.
 
Binghamton's offense came out of halftime with another seven goals, its most in a quarter on Saturday. Ferris, who was held scoreless in the first half, broke through with a hat trick in the third quarter. Sonny Imburgia also scored two goals in a row, and Keegan and Adams each added one more tally to put Binghamton ahead 16-8.
 
Chazanow helped the Bearcats pick up right where they left off in the start of the fourth quarter, when he executed a Face Off Get Off on the opening draw and scored his fourth goal of the season seven seconds into the frame. That would tie his career high for goals in a season. Binghamton went on to score the next four goals in the quarter, with two in a row from Girolamo and one each from Ferris and Cartmill. It would be Binghamton's second 5-0 run of the game, followed by its scoring stretch in the second quarter.
 
Other Highlights

• The win brings Binghamton's overall record to 6-5, making it the first time this season that the Bearcats have a winning percentage over .500. This also makes 2024 the second year in a row the Bearcats will finish the season with at least six wins after they won nine games in 2023. 2023 and 2024 are also the first consecutive seasons in program history that Binghamton has won at least six games in each year.
• With the win, Binghamton also remains tied for first place in the America East along with UAlbany at a league record of 4-1. Both teams will play each other in the regular season finale on April 27 at 7 p.m., in Albany.
• The Bearcats set new season highs as a team in points (34), goals (21), assists (13) and shots on goal (32). The last total tied their amount against UMass Lowell on March 30, a 15-6 win for the Bearcats.
• Christian Hanko and Trey Sofield each tied their career high with three ground balls. Sofield previously had three ground balls against both Jacksonville on Feb. 10 and Lafayette on Feb. 24 of 2024. Hanko recorded three ground balls against both Saint John's on March 4, 2023 and Bryant on April 3, 2023.
• Nicky LaBanca replaced Winters in goal for the final 6:24 of the game. In his third appearance of the year in goal, LaBanca tied his season high with two saves.

 
Up Next
Binghamton will host Bryant on Saturday, April 20 in its final home game of the regular season at noon. The game will serve as Senior Day for the Bearcats, as the team will honor its senior class. Youth Day and Pass with a Player will also take place after both promotions were postponed on Saturday due to the inclement weather. Youth players in the area are encouraged to come to the game and wear their jerseys to celebrate youth lacrosse in the Southern Tier. There will be team posters given out to fans. After the game, the Bearcats will hold their latest Pass with a Player promotion. Any youth player age 13 and under who shows up with their lacrosse stick will have an opportunity to pass a lacrosse ball on the field for 10 minutes after the game with the team.