The Binghamton University men’s soccer team was riding high off of a four game win streak, which included two sudden death overtime wins in the previous two games. Hartford hadn’t won a game since Sept. 28. Not to mention for the past four years the Bearcats’ soccer team was undefeated against the Hawks. So Saturday’s result was a surprise to say the least.

Hartford stunned the Bearcats Saturday afternoon at home, when sophomore forward Kevin Hall ricocheted a shot from senior forward Oswald Adu that passed by BU goalie Jason Stenta. The goal was his second goal of the game and the deciding one with 1:27 left in the do or die overtime contest. With the loss, the Bearcats fall to a tie for the America East lead with UMBC. Both teams have a 2-1-0 Conference record. Hartford propelled themselves to 1-0-1 in conference play and into a tie for third in the conference with Albany.

Despite the loss the Bearcats remain optimistic about their hopes for the season.

‘The Hartford match is not an indication of anything,’ said head coach Paul Marco. It certainly isn’t going to prevent us from winning the championship. It’s one loss.’

Binghamton came out first, scoring on a spectacular header from sophomore Cameron Keith. The two time AE Player of the Week knocked in the header off a cross from junior midfielder Pablo Trillo with an assist given to Justin Leskow. The goal was Keith’s sixth in four games and gives him a commanding team high in both goals (6) and points (13). Keith was also named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week earlier this month.

The Bearcats almost widened the gap to 2-0 when a smart move by Stenta caught the Hawks off guard. Hartford was given an indirect kick near the Binghamton end, meaning one player other than the kicker has to touch the ball before it goes into the net. However, the Hawks didn’t realize this and mistakenly shot the ball directly into the net. So when half their team was celebrating the ‘score’ Stenta passed the ball up the field to his forwards who were hindered enough by the few Hawks still on the field to stop the Bearcats from scoring.

Hall tied the game up at one each for the Hawks with his first goal in the 73rd minute by beating the Bearcat defense to the ball after receiving a chip pass from junior forward Andreas Blamo. The shot landed out of reach of Stenta and into the lower right hand corner of the net.

Prior to Saturday’s game, Hall had only one goal and one assist this season. He now ranks third on his team with seven points. With his assist Saturday, Andreas Blamo stretches his team lead in points from 10 to 11.

The Bearcats will try to rebound tonight at 7 p.m. hosting a non-conference foe, Colgate, at the Bearcat Sports Complex.

‘Last year we lost one to Boston,’ Marco said. ‘It won’t ruin our chances. It was a bad day and we’ve moved on from it.’