With a dominant team performance at Adelphi University over the weekend, the Binghamton University men’s soccer team has sent out a clear message to its America East opponents: the Bearcats are ready for conference play.
The Panthers were the only team standing between Binghamton (4-5) and its Sept. 29 America East opener against University of New Hampshire. They were toppled by BU on Saturday, 3-0.
Senior forward Jake Keegan started the scoring early, picking apart the Adelphi defense in the 10th minute with an assist from sophomore forward Steven Celeste. The goal was Keegan’s eighth of the season, tying him for fourth in the nation. His 25 career goals are the most in Binghamton’s Division I history.
“We started the match very well, got an early goal,” Binghamton head coach Paul Marco said. “We settled down quickly. We thought we could have three goals before half time. There were a couple of balls we just missed in the six yard. I thought we should have done a little better in those moments. And I thought we were on top of the game the whole game.”
In the 24th minute, junior back Robbie Hughes doubled Binghamton’s lead with a volley that flew into the top right corner.
Hughes then wrapped up the win for the Bearcats, with a thumping header from senior midfielder Adam Whitehead’s corner with just over 20 minutes left. Marco praised his junior defender for a solid all-around performance.
“We played [Hughes] up higher, and he played higher in the team on set pieces,” Marco said. “His first goal was a first-time volley into the goal, a terrific goal, probably up there for goal-of-the-year candidate. And the second goal was just hard work.”
The victory marked the 100th win of Marco’s career as head coach. With a record of 100-70-36, he is only the second coach in the 62-year history of the program to reach the century mark in wins. Now in his 12th season with the Bearcats, Marco is grateful for the opportunity he was given to lead the team in 2002, thanking all the players he has worked with, past and present.
“Whenever you achieve some kind of milestone, it makes you reflect and remember the memories with all the great players that have played for you,” he said. “I certainly wouldn’t have had any of the wins without the players that we had. I am very fortunate to be at a great university like Binghamton, to get to bring in the guys that we have in the current team and the guys that played before them.”
With the first game of conference play right around the corner, Marco said he is encouraged by the team spirit that the players have shown this season and is convinced that the team is set to get the conference campaign started.
“I think we are ready,” he said. “I think that the guys are going to be very fresh. We may still have a few guys out with injury. But the team’s frame of mind is terrific, with smiles on their faces. It is just a joy to be around them.”
After a disappointing campaign in 2011, the coach said he is expecting drastic improvements and believes that his team is good enough to contend for the championship this season.
“I thought that from day one when we came in, the frame of mind the guys have is going to be our biggest obstacle,” he said. “I don’t think it is going to be what they are doing with their feet, but rather the six inches in between their left ear and right ear. And if they can concentrate and focus and show the will to compete for the 90 minutes of the game or overtime, I think that we have enough to be a championship team.”
Kickoff against University of New Hampshire is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Bearcats Sports Complex.