Four games into the season, the Bearcats are still in search of their first win of the season.
In the past two weeks, Binghamton University’s men’s lacrosse team lost at home to the Hobart Statesmen by a score of 8-4, traveled to Drexel and lost 11-4, and then returned home to lose an overtime heartbreaker to the Villanova Wildcats by a score of 7-6.
On Feb. 24, Hobart used a strong first half on offense to stifle the Bearcats early in the game. Hobart had a 6-0 lead before the Bearcats got on the board in the third period. Binghamton played better defense in the second half, but the offensive unit could not erase the deficit.
“We weren’t taking the best shots, and we didn’t take advantage of the opportunities we got,” said BU head coach Ed Stephenson. “We took too long to get aggressive and get our offense going. We threw the ball away when we needed to move the ball efficiently. Our defense improved, but the offense needs to make plays.”
Junior attack Andy Cook and senior midfielder Duncan Streeten recorded two goals each for the Bearcats, who out-shot the Statesmen, 29-27, but lost the ground ball battle 26-15. Senior goalie Larry Kline made eight saves. Binghamton failed to score on six extra-man opportunities. For Hobart, junior midfielder Tyler Cassell recorded his first career hat trick and junior goalie Max Silberlicht made a season-high 14 saves.
At Drexel, the Bearcats could not muster enough strength down the stretch to keep the game close. While the Bearcats struggled to play aggressively early in the first two games, this contest was tied 3-3 after the first period, but the Dragons would outscore the Bearcats 8-1 thereafter, including a 5-0 third period.
“We didn’t play good offense or good defense in that game,” Stephenson said. “We could not find any momentum at all.”
Sophomore attack Brian Donahue scored twice in the contest, while Streeten and junior midfielder Steve Carlson added a goal apiece. Binghamton was out-shot 36-25, and lost the battle for ground balls once more, 43-29. The man-up unit struggled again as well, failing to score on five opportunities. Kline stopped 12 shots in the contest.
It seemed like the Bearcats were ready to break out of the slump on March 4 when they hosted the Villanova Wildcats at the Bearcats Sports Complex, but after a back-and-forth battle, they could not finish the game down the stretch. After the Wildcats opened up a 2-0 lead, the Bearcats reeled off six consecutive goals to end the first half on top, 6-2.
Cook recorded his third career hat trick, while Carlson, senior attack Jake Boyce and senior midfielder Jonny Baron also scored for the Bearcats in the first half.
“[Cook] was dynamite,” Stephenson said. “He played an outstanding game, but we need more guys to put the pressure on the opponent, especially in the midfield area.”
Binghamton did not score in the second half of the game. The Wildcats used a three-goal fourth period to erase the deficit. Sophomore attack Mike Brennan scored the tying goal with 2:15 left in the fourth period. In overtime, Villanova won the opening face off. Brennan stationed himself behind the net, received the ball, and reeled off a pass to freshman attack C.J. Small, who scored his second goal of the game 54 seconds into sudden-death overtime to defeat the Bearcats.
“This was the best defensive effort I’ve seen yet this season,” Stephenson said. “We held a team that averages around 13 goals per game to six goals in regulation. But it was disappointing not to score in the second half.”
Kline had 12 saves for the second straight game, but Binghamton was out-shot again, this time 31-17. They lost the ground ball battle for the fourth consecutive game, 22-19, but improved their man-up play, scoring twice on five opportunities. Villanova had won its first three games of the season by an average margin of 6.33 goals per game, but needed overtime to defeat the Bearcats, who are still looking for their first win of the 2009 season.
The Bearcats’ next opportunity for its first victory will be at the Bearcats Sports Complex tomorrow at 1 p.m. against Marist (0-1).