After a bad loss at Hartford on Saturday, the Binghamton University men’s soccer team (9-3-0, 2-1 America East) is looking to get back on track tonight in a midweek match against Colgate (6-3-2).
However, this out-of-conference match is no tune-up: both teams sit atop their respective conference standings and upstate New York bragging rights are on the line.
The Bearcats are seeking to avenge a 2006 loss to the Raiders in Hamilton. Despite outshooting Colgate 16-11, Binghamton could not produce a goal and lost 1-0 after letting in a second half shot.
However, this time around Binghamton will have its usual advantage: in their last 16 home games, the Bearcats have not lost.
Sophomore sensation Jason Stenta may finally meet his match in David Cappuccio, the Raiders’ steady keeper. While Stenta boasts a 0.64 goals-against-average and seven shutouts, Cappuccio has a 0.80 GAA with five shutouts. When the teams met in 2006, it was Cappuccio who played the hero, turning away seven Bearcat shots.
Senior Eric Anton, who leads the Raiders in scoring and tallied the game-winning goal against Lafayette on Sunday, leads Colgate. Bearcat coach Paul Marco is also concerned about freshman Steven Miller, who has scored two goals this season.
‘(Anton) scored an unbelievable goal when I watched Colgate beat Lafayette,’ said Marco. ‘He’s very competitive and he plays hard.’
Marco plans to use defenders Adam Chavez and Liam Carson, as well as midfielder J.P. Ahoua, to slow down Colgate’s forwards.
Binghamton’s sophomore striker Cameron Keith has scored six goals in the last four games and will try to continue his stellar play on the new turf field.
Binghamton leads the all-time series with Colgate 9-8-2.
The match kicks off at 7 p.m. tonight at the Bearcat Sports Complex.