Keep believing. That’s been Graham Munro’s motto the last couple of days.
The senior back said that a lot of people have written the Binghamton University men’s soccer team off after a couple of conference losses, just like critics did to the Glasgow Rangers — his favorite professional team and inspiration behind the motto — last season.
“I’ve been telling the guys to keep believing,” Munro said. “We had a meeting after the New Hampshire game, just to reinforce to the guys and make them believe we can achieve a lot this season.”
The meeting has had a positive effect on the Bearcats (10-4-1, 3-2-0 AE) thus far, as they defeated the Stony Brook Seawolves (8-3-3, 3-1-1 AE) Wednesday night at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium 3-1.
Head coach Paul Marco was content with the way his team bounced back after the last two losses.
“The UMBC game slipped away,” Marco explained. “And in New Hampshire, the guys didn’t come to compete. I was very pleased with how our guys responded [against Stony Brook].”
Junior forward Kyle Antos scored the winning goal at the 37:12 mark on a play that started with a perfect throw-in from senior back Darius Ravangard.
“It was an absolute monster,” said Munro, of the 30-yard pass. “It went right over my head, and Joey Neilson just cushioned it right into the path for Kyle.”
The Seawolves expected Ravangard to send the pass to the front post, enabling Neilson to get free for a header off the throw-in to Antos.
Sophomore goalkeeper Ryan Bertoni recorded his seventh shutout of the season, lowering his goals against average to 0.59.
The victory moves BU to fourth place in the America East standings with nine points. The Bearcats trail Stony Brook and Vermont by one point, and are three points behind UMBC.
The Bearcats return home this Saturday to host the Albany Great Danes (5-7-2, 2-3-0 AE) at 2 p.m.
“Every game we play now is the most important of the season,” Munro said. “We know if we get the result on Saturday, we could secure a spot in the playoffs.”
The Glasgow Rangers fought through adversity to win the Scottish Premier League last year. Munro is confident that if his teammates keep believing in themselves, they too will be able to call themselves champions at the end of this season.