With almost unplayable field conditions for 110 minutes, a tie was inevitable.

The Binghamton University men’s soccer team (10-4-2, 3-2-1 AE) battled the Albany Great Danes (5-7-3-, 2-3-1 AE) to a 1-1 deadlock during a muddy, rainy game at West Gym Field Saturday.

“It was more a battle than a soccer game,” said senior midfielder Danilo. “A battle to keep up, to control the ball.”

The Bearcats opened up the scoring at the 26:37 mark of the first half on a goal by Matt Narode. The sophomore forward now has six goals on the season, five coming off the bench.

Albany’s freshman goalkeeper Steward Ceus mishandled a cross in front of the net, and Narode took advantage on the rebound.

“We put the ball in good position,” said head coach Paul Marco. “[Ceus] is a very good goalkeeper, but he comes off his line a little bit.”

The game was knotted at one 15 minutes into the second half on a BU own goal. Senior back Ryan Pierce misplayed the ball as he tried clearing it away from the striker he was defending.

The Bearcats were severely outplayed in the second half, after completely dominating the first 45 minutes. Marco attributes the difference of play to the field conditions.

“In the second half, our attack was going down the hill,” Marco said. “That end of the field was all torn up. The conditions really changed during halftime and the first part of the second half.”

And then in the two overtime periods, it seemed like both teams were running out of gas. With time running out, assistant coach John Scott screamed to his players, “We’re not doing enough, we need more.”

With the tie, BU moved to third place in the America East with 10 points. They can clinch a playoff berth with a win at Hartford Saturday night.