Binghamton University’s men’s soccer team (4-1-2) will try to extend their unbeaten streak to seven tonight as they host a tough Hartwick team.
The Hawks come into tonight’s game with a 1-3-3 record, but Binghamton head coach Paul Marco warns not to read into that too much.
“Their record doesn’t show how well they’ve played,” Marco said. “They are a good attacking team, a well-coached team.”
To reinforce that statement, the Hartwick team is coming off an emotional loss to No. 18 Dartmouth, losing on a penalty kick with 59 seconds left in the game. The team’s great play may be a big boost to them during tonight’s game.
“Hartwick’s great game will carry over into Tuesday’s game,” Marco said.
Hartwick’s talented attacking team is headed by senior John Paul Boyle. Recruited from his hometown of Renfrew, Scotland, Boyle has a team-leading four goals and eight points this season.
“[Boyle] is quite good,” Marco said. “He’s a really dangerous player.”
Binghamton looks to send out a strong attacking game with its own Scot, junior Cameron Keith, as well as freshman Andy Tiedt and sophomore Scott Zobre, who combine for six of the team’s 10 goals this season. Tiedt, the current America East Conference Rookie of the Week, has looked good this season and will only get better.
“Andy has been quite good; he has increased his presence on the field and he’s showing more confidence,” Marco said.
The team again will be without the presence of senior back Liam Carson on the field. Carson has been moving around better, but the coaching staff wants to be cautious.
“We don’t want to push him [right now],” Marco said.
With Carson out, the midfielders and defenders will both have to step up alongside Keith, Tiedt and Zobre.
“[Guys like] Cody, Leskow, Tomko and Walters all have to have good games,” Marco said. “The team may be out of position with Liam [sitting], but you won’t be able to tell the difference.”
Another big factor in tonight’s game will be the crowd. With the possibility of Hartwick fans at the game, getting BU fans up in the stands becomes so important. That shouldn’t be a problem, though, considering that the Bearcats Sports Complex during Friday’s home opener housed a regular season record 1,892 fans. It is easy to tell that the record-setting attendance is a big deal to the Bearcat team.
“We’re on to something special here,” Marco said. “We’re becoming a soccer school.”
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. tonight at the Bearcats Sports Complex and marks the team’s last home game until Oct. 15.