The Binghamton men’s soccer team will look to squeeze some oranges when they pay a visit to Syracuse on Wednesday. The Bearcats will be looking for their second straight win, in what will be the final match before America East competition begins.

Syracuse (3-4-0) is undefeated in non-conference play, winning its first three games of the season against out-of-conference opponents, but remain winless in Big East play. They have lost their last four games, all to conference rivals, the most recent loss coming from Connecticut 2-0 on Sunday.

The Bearcats (2-4-3) held on to win 1-0 on Saturday against Hartwick, their first win in nearly two weeks, and hope to enter conference play on a high note.

“I think that in your frame of mind and your confidence and how you carry yourself, you’re certainly up more after a win than after a loss,” said head coach Paul Marco.

The Orange will play a 4-3-3 format — a system BU has yet to see this season — which features three players up front to counter Binghamton’s four. The Bearcats have switched formations several times this season, but expect to play either a 4-4-2 or perhaps a 4-3-3 to counter the Orange.

Syracuse is led by captain Brad Peetom, a senior central defender, as well as fellow senior midfielder Richard Asante, who is a dangerous player in set pieces. But perhaps Syracuse’s best player is a freshman, midfielder Luis Martinez.

“He’s just an unbelievably technically sound, gifted player, a guy who you’ll pay to watch play,” Marco said of Martinez. “He’s just special.”

In goal for the Orange will be sophomore Robert Cavicchia, who has 23 saves in seven games this season, including one shutout.

Sophomore forward Kyle Hall is the team’s leading scorer with five goals, and the Orange have outshot their opponents 111 to 89. Binghamton has been outshot 109 to 102.

The Bearcats, who until recently were struggling to find themselves as a team, might have finally settled in on Saturday. Injuries throughout the early part of the season kept the Bearcats from gelling. Their defense is composed of fresh faces, as the lone returning player on defense, senior captain Kyle Antos, played midfield and up front last season and has had to learn a new position.

Now Binghamton has the opportunity to enter America East play on a winning streak, but the Orange will look to derail that plan. Despite a losing record, the Orangemen play in a tough conference and have not yet found a non-conference opponent whom they could not handle in 2006.

“I see them being very hungry on Wednesday, trying to get back to .500,” Marco said. “It’ll be a difficult game for us.”