EASTON, Pa. – The Binghamton men's lacrosse team opened its 2025 season with a 16-9 loss to Lafayette Monday night at Fisher Stadium.

Despite leading 9-8 with 10:14 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Bearcats (0-1) gave up eight unanswered goals to the Leopards (2-0) to close out the game. Both Liam Ferris and Andrew Girolamo each posted three goals for Binghamton, while Connor Winters made 13 saves in goal for the Bearcats.

Binghamton's first goal of its 24th season belonged to Girolamo. In his first game since he made the America East All-Rookie Team in 2024, the sophomore gave the Bearcats a 1-0 lead with an unassisted strike from the far side of the field at the 11:56 mark in the opening quarter. 

A few minutes after Nicholas Blalock tied the game for Lafayette at one at 9:45, Dan Garone scooped up a loose ball around midfield during a clear attempt to start a fast break for the Bearcats. Garone sent the ball to Ferris, who fired in his first goal of the season to put Binghamton back ahead 2-1 at 7:09. Riley Sullivan tied the game for Lafayette at two at 4:16, before Girolamo responded with his second tally less than a minute later at 3:19. Lafayette responded even more quickly with another goal by Sullivan 3:07. Both teams ultimately finished the opening quarter tied at three.

The Leopards shut out the Bearcats in the second quarter while taking a 5-3 lead into halftime off goals from Sullivan and Cade Kilbride. Lafayette then added two goals in the early portion of the third quarter while Ferris picked up his second tally of the night. Down 7-4 with 10:43 remaining in the third, Binghamton went on its run. In a span of 1:48, the Bearcats put up goals from Ferris, Colin DeLay and Dan Garone to tie the game at seven. Despite Lafayette getting another goal by Sullivan with 1:34 left in the frame, the Bearcats went into the fourth quarter staying within striking distance down 8-7.

In the first few minutes of the fourth quarter, the Bearcats made their move to retake the lead. First, Drew Filanowski went around the back of the net before firing in his first collegiate goal in his first collegiate start to tie the game at eight with 11:38 left. 1:24 later, Ferris found Girolamo who fired a shot top shelf to secure his hat trick and give Binghamton a 9-8 lead with 10:14 left. It would be the last time Binghamton would find the back of the net for the rest of the night.

Lafayette scored the final eight goals of the game, with three coming from Sullivan. The Leopards' defense kept the Bearcats off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game to bring home their second win of the season.

Other Notes
•    Ferris' hat trick is the seventh of his career after he posted six in his first season with the Bearcats in 2024. Girolamo, meanwhile, recorded his second collegiate hat trick on Monday. His first came against UMBC on April 13, 2024, when he scored four times against the Retrievers.
•    Nolan Sharkey led the Bearcats with seven ground balls and three caused turnovers, both career highs. During his freshman season in 2024, Sharkey had caused two turnovers against both Jacksonville on Feb. 10 and Merrimack on March 16. His previous career high for ground balls was also two, which he accomplished four separate times in 2024.
•    In his first collegiate appearance, Flynn Wilson won six faceoffs for Binghamton. CJ Mangio also was victorious in three appearances at the X.

Up Next
Binghamton heads out to Western New York to play at St. Bonaventure on Saturday at 11 a.m.