Can you feel the season changing? It’s cooler, the leaves are turning different colors, the sun is readying for its seven month hiatus from Binghamton. Yes, that’s right folks, the season is indeed changing. For it’s time for AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE PLAY.

No more will the crowds be bored by meaningless non-conference matchups. The AE season kicks off Saturday when the men’s soccer team heads to Maine, hoping its recent success will carry on in the conference season. The women’s soccer team is up next, with a road game against the rival Vermont Catamounts on Sunday. Then the moment everyone has been waiting for, when the 2005 America East champion Binghamton volleyball team finally returns home to open up its conference schedule, next Friday, at the West Gym. It’s been a long road trip for the Bearcats, so expect some fireworks.

Pipe Dream’s Golden Pipe Award: Senior goalkeeper Kristie Bowers played a huge part in ending the women’s soccer team’s non-conference schedule on a high note, making seven saves in BU’s 1-0 victory over Canisius on Thursday. Bowers was vocal throughout the game, screaming encouragement at her teammates, and has allowed just one goal in her past four games.

Voice of the Fans: “I’ve seen some of the new players practicing down at the Events Center, and I have to say, they look good. I can’t wait for basketball season to start.” — Aara Shaikh, junior political science major.

In each issue of Pipe Dream, we will give you, the Bearcat fan, a chance to sound off on anything from the world of sports. Think you could have hit that free throw? A throw your favorite player missed in the clutch? Let us know. Psyched about an upcoming volleyball game? Let us know. Think Baxter is freaking annoying? Let us know. This is all about you, the BU fan. E-mail your comments to MarkMacyk5@AOL.com. Be sure to include your name, major and year, and we’ll print it right here, every issue.