VESTAL, N.Y. – Despite jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the first quarter, the Binghamton men's lacrosse team was unable to hold on to it as the Bearcats were defeated by UAlbany 11-9 Saturday at the Bearcats Sports Complex.
 
Liam Ferris scored another three goals for his fifth hat trick of the season, and Gage Adams added another two tallies along with two assists. But the Great Danes scored 11 of the final 15 goals of the game, with three coming from Alex Pfeiffer, to hand Binghamton its first loss in America East Conference play this year.
 
The Bearcats attacked early and often, scoring three goals in the first four minutes of the game. Will Feldmann first set up Dan Garone in front of the crease, who was able to fight off a few defenders before firing in the opening tally at 13:26. Gage Adams followed with both of his goals for the day at 12:31 and 11:24 respectively. A few minutes later, Ferris and Thomas Kelly each added a goal, with the latter being assisted by Adams, to help the Bearcats go up 5-0 with 5:43 left in the opening quarter. UAlbany got on the scoreboard with 2:02 left in the frame thanks to a goal by Ryan Doherty, as Binghamton took a 5-1 advantage into the second quarter.
 
The Great Danes continued their comeback in the next frame, with both Amos Whitcomb and Koleton Marquis scoring on the man-advantage at 14:37 and 12:57 respectively. Doherty then added another goal to bring it to 5-4 at 8:26. Andrew Girolamo ended Binghamton's scoring drought with a goal at 5:24, thanks in part to an assist from Adams, but UAlbany soon responded with a strike from Pfeiffer at 4:01. Binghamton held on to its lead after that and took a 6-5 advantage into halftime.
 
UAlbany grabbed the lead for the first time early in the third quarter thanks to goals from Jackson Palumb and Pfeiffer at 13:33 and 12:52. Down 7-6, Ferris tied the game up for the Bearcats with his second goal of the day at 9:49. Both defenses took turns getting stops from then on, until Parker Emmett and Silas Richmond scored 47 seconds apart to put UAlbany ahead 9-7 at 3:14. Binghamton ended the quarter with momentum, however. With the clock ticking down, Brady Sharkey rushed into the Bearcats' offensive zone with the ball off a late turnover by the Great Danes. Sharkey then sent the ball ahead to Paolo Capucciati, who quickly fired in his second goal of the season with three seconds remaining. The Bearcats went into the final quarter trailing 9-8.
 
However, Binghamton was unable to find itself the game-tying goal. Pfeiffer completed his hat trick with a tally at 9:47, while Marquis added insurance for the Great Danes to make it 11-8 UAlbany at 1:55. Ferris secured his hat trick with a goal at 1:20, but UAlbany's defense held on to get the win on the road.
 
Other Notes

• Ferris' hat trick is the 11th of his career with the Bearcats. He trails both Adams and Michael Antinozzi by one for the third-most in program history.
• Lorezno Ramos led the Bearcats with four ground balls while causing a turnover. Nolan Sharkey also had a team-high two caused turnovers along with two ground balls. Nolan Sharkey currently leads Binghamton with 31 ground balls and 17 caused turnovers this season, both career highs for the sophomore.
• Connor Winters stopped 10 shots in goal while collecting two ground balls and causing one turnover. The reigning America East Goalkeeper of the Week is up to 473 saves for his career, trailing Binghamton Head Men's Lacrosse Coach Kevin McKeown by 36 for the program record of 509.

 
Up Next
Binghamton travels to take on UMBC on Saturday, April 12 at noon.
 
Station 45 American Chop House is the presenting sponsor of Bearcats men's lacrosse.