Hundreds of fans were mobbing in celebration the last time the Binghamton University and Boston University men’s soccer teams shared a field on Nov. 1, 2006, at old West Gym Field.

The Bearcats were in the midst of the jubilation, having clinched their fourth straight America East finals appearance. Boston was watching in disbelief and preparing to go home, its season finished after a semifinals shootout.

At 7 p.m. tomorrow under the lights of the Bearcat Sports Complex, Binghamton (7-2-0) and Boston (5-4-0) are scheduled to meet for the first time since last year’s playoffs. And it’ll be about as intense as a regular season match can be.

‘I think this is our biggest rivalry,’ said Bearcats goalkeeper Jason Stenta. ‘After that they all fall in order, Stony Brook and Vermont. It’s just what I think, the other guys might think differently. But I saw Boston beat us in the finals as a freshman. They almost ruined our chances in the semis last year. This year they’re coming to our place.’

The match is both teams’ first conference opener and a likely playoff preview. Binghamton and Boston were picked to finish first and second respectively in the AE preseason coaches’ poll. With Binghamton’s biggest rival in town on alumni weekend, the team’s attendance record of 1,862, set last Saturday, could well be surpassed.

According to Binghamton coach Paul Marco, 40 Binghamton men’s soccer alumni will be in attendance. It’ll be the first time many of those players get to see the BSC, a stadium which without many of their successes in recent years would likely not have been built. There will be a 15-minute dedication of the BSC before the match.

‘I feel like it’s going to be a great game to watch,’ said Ibrahim Yusuf, an integral midfielder on the 2006 championship team, who graduated this spring. ‘Last year we knocked ’em out of the playoffs and I’m sure they’re going to be looking for revenge this year.’

Outside of last year’s semifinals, Boston has been a nightmare for the Bearcats. Binghamton has been able to down the Terriers without winning a shootout just once in eight meetings since 2002. In 2004 Boston defeated Binghamton in the AE finals on penalty kicks, denying Binghamton a second consecutive championship.

These 2007 Terriers are coming off a 1-0 win at No. 15 Brown on Tuesday in which freshman Aaron O’Neal scored the decisive goal in the 63rd minute. O’Neal is tied for the team lead in goals with junior Petur Sigurdsson.

Both Boston coach Neil Roberts and Marco said they were not approaching this match as one too far out of the ordinary.

‘Last year is in the books,’ Roberts said. ‘You win by five, you lose by five; it really doesn’t take away from last year. This is a whole new year, new players, new guys, so it’s all about this year.’

‘I would say it has importance in that it is our next game,’ Marco said. ‘Our season isn’t on the brink in this match, though this match could move us further to our ultimate goal.’

Binghamton is on a two-game win streak and is ranked seventh in the Northeast region according to the most recent NSCAA/Adidas rankings. The Bearcats defeated Cornell 3-0 on Saturday on a hat trick by Cameron Keith in the Bearcats’ largest offensive outburst of the season.

Binghamton’s strength this season has been its defense, led by Stenta, whose .55 goals against average is 16th in the nation among Division I schools.

‘It’ll be a huge challenge for us,’ Roberts said. ‘I want to hope that we’re going to be able to attack. We know Binghamton is a very good defensive team.’

Hrafn Davidsson, a 6-foot-4-inch sophomore from Iceland, is in his first season as Boston’s starting goalkeeper. He has 1.01 goals against average.

Marco said he expects the match to be played from end to end, coming down to which goalkeeper can make more saves. And that he expects to win.

‘I view Boston as a very good opponent,’ Marco said. ‘But I prepare for them the way I do everyone. We had a great week to prepare for this match. There should be no reason we can’t win this match.’