The Binghamton men’s soccer team sits in third place, and its two opponents this week are sitting pretty in first and second. America East soccer does not get any better than this.

The Bearcats’ first test is the Albany Great Danes (7-6-2, 5-2-0 AE), who sit in second place and sport a similar record to BU’s (7-6-3, 5-1-0 AE). With a win tomorrow in Albany and another victory at home Saturday against first-place Vermont (8-5-3, 5-1-1 AE) in the regular season finale, Binghamton can capture its first America East regular season title since joining the conference in 2002. The Bearcats have already established a new team record for AE wins, with five this season.

But beyond the postseason implications, Wednesday’s match in Albany also marks the first time that senior Bearcat forward Peter Sgueglia will play at his former stomping grounds, in a city which he also happens to call home.

“I felt the [Binghamton] soccer team could offer me more,” Sgueglia said of his motives for transferring. “I’ll definitely bring my A-game; I mean it’s going to be tough because I’m from Albany, so it’s like my home, at the same time it’s also my old school … It’s going to be a big game for the team, but an especially emotional game for me.”

Sgueglia, the team leader in goals and assists, was named America East Conference Player of the Week and leads an offense that will face the conference’s leading defense in saves per game. The Great Danes are also tied with Vermont for the second-most shutouts on the season at six.

The Bearcats are coming off three straight wins, while Albany has won two in a row, most recently beating Boston University on the road in overtime, 1-0. The player who scored the game-winning goal for the Great Danes? Freshman forward Joe Hogan, a former youth soccer player under Binghamton head coach Paul Marco, just to add more intrigue to tomorrow’s matchup.

“Being another state school, I do think maybe there is a little rivalry going on between [Albany and Binghamton],” Marco said. “I don’t try and get caught up in that, I just prepare my guys like every other opponent.”

Albany’s premier players are Yan Gbolo, a senior forward who leads the team in goals; Gaby Seguin-Gauthier, a sophomore forward; and Stephen Hall, a senior midfielder.

Marco expects Albany to come out in a 4-5-1 or a 3-6-1, which he plans to counter with a 3-5-2, different from the 4-3-3 and the 4-4-2 that the team has employed most of the season.

The Bearcats embark on their first mission tomorrow in Albany, knowing Vermont waits in the wings and the conference title hangs in the balance.

“I think we’re ready for the match Wednesday,” Marco said. “The America East couldn’t have asked for a better final week.”