Binghamton’s men’s lacrosse team waited for the storm to arrive.
Up four goals in the second period and facing the nation’s No. 6 team, the Bearcats knew Albany would eventually battle back. And after withstanding several Great Dane scoring sprees, Binghamton pulled the upset, topping Albany 9-8 on Senior Day.
With the Bearcats (4-8, 3-2 AE) up 8-7 goal with a minute and a half left, Albany freshman defender Brendan Gleason committed a costly slashing penalty. In the ensuing man-down possession, the Danes tried to pressure Binghamton into a turnover, forcing Albany goalie Dan McKeon to leave the goal and play defense. Binghamton senior midfielder, Jeff Santucci, received a pass 15 feet in front of the goal and fired away on the open net.
‘They were getting a little desperate and tried to pull the ball away from us,’ Santucci said. ‘Coach asked me to hold the ball at the end so we don’t give it up, but I beat my man and no one was in the net so I made the easy play.’
The insurance goal proved more valuable than expected, as Albany (12-2, 4-1 AE) scored its final goal 12 seconds later. Binghamton held on for the 9-8 victory.
Albany senior attack Frank Resetarits added to his impressive season point total with four goals. However, a Bearcat senior attack upstaged Resetarits on Binghamton’s Senior Day. Rob Williams, who was injured earlier in the season, registered three goals and one assist. His return should help Binghamton in the upcoming America East conference tournament.
‘We looked to put 60 minutes together and I don’t think we did that, but we put a good enough game together to get the win,’ Williams said. ‘That’s the key going into the conference tournament.’
Williams was named America East co-player of the week along with Resetarits.
Despite gray skies and wet bleacher seats, hundreds of Binghamton and Albany fans watched the Bearcats’ last lacrosse game at East Gym Complex. The team will move to a new turf field next season.
The rainy weather also helped Binghamton’s defense. Albany’s midfielders repeatedly fell on the slippery grass and had trouble connecting on passes. The Bearcats took advantage of Albany’s sloppiness with several takeaways and body-checks in important moments.
‘We played Mike Cove and Chris Winter off the ball and I guarded behind their initiator,’ senior defensive leader Tom Wilmot said. ‘We just hustled and our teammates played great. Our goal was to keep them under 10 goals and we did that. That’s how we got the ‘W.’
‘They made plays and we didn’t ‘ that’s what the game came down to,’ said Albany head coach Scott Marr. ‘We didn’t play very well and [Binghamton] played very well.’
Albany is the highest ranked team that Binghamton has defeated in any sport. The previous record was a victory at No. 8 Towson in men’s lacrosse last year.
‘We’re fighting for home field advantage in the NCAA tournament so this will hurt us,’ Marr said.
Albany, which fell to No. 11 in the national polls after the loss, is in danger of losing an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. Two weeks ago, Albany’s at-large bid seemed all but certain, but a loss in the AE tournament could now knock the Danes out of at-large contention.
Binghamton goalie Larry Kline played one of his most consistent games of the season, making nine saves and making few mental errors. Kline, who began the season as the starting goalie, had lost his job midway through the season. A strong week in practice helped him earn his starting spot back and his performance on Saturday likely solidified his spot heading into the AE tournament.
‘Coach is going to go with whoever he thinks can get us there,’ Kline said. ‘Last week it wasn’t me and this week it was me.’