After winning all of its 2007 home games, the Binghamton men’s soccer team has a new challenge: win an America East game on the road.
The Bearcats (12-4-0, 4-2-0 AE) have lost both AE road games so far, but can win the regular season championship with two road wins.
But for Binghamton, the two remaining games will be no walk in the park: the Bearcats must defeat 2006 runner-up Vermont and perennial contender Stony Brook.
On Wednesday, Binghamton heads to Vermont for a 2 p.m. rematch of the 2006 AE title game.
The Catamounts (5-9-2, 2-2-2 AE) were picked to finish third in the AE preseason poll and even received three first-place votes, but currently sit in sixth place. Six teams qualify for the AE championship tournament.
Catamount head coach Jesse Cormier was an assistant to BU head coach Paul Marco when the latter was head coach at West Virginia.
‘Vermont is hungry and they’ve had a busy weekend,’ Marco said. ‘Jesse is my former assistant, so he’ll have his boys fired up and ready to beat his mentor, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve for him.’
Vermont has a pair of talented strikers in Lee Stephane Kouadio and T.J. Gore, who each have scored two goals and one assist. However, the Catamounts have only scored 11 goals in 2007, compared to 25 for Binghamton.
One factor that will work in Vermont’s advantage is the home field ‘ literally. Whereas the Bearcats are accustomed to playing on a sparkling turf stadium in good conditions, the Catamounts play on a poorly maintained grass field.
‘It will be difficult for us and them to play on it,’ Marco said. ‘It will be bumpy and cut up, and if we get some more rain before Wednesday, it will be more of a war than a soccer match.’
To help his team prepare for the adverse conditions, Marco moved Monday and Tuesday’s practices to a grass field.
According to Marco, both teams employ 4-3-3 schemes and should play an even, physical match.
‘Our guys know how important Wednesday is,’ Marco said. ‘The table is still very tight, but I think this team will come through.’