Article

Men’s soccer just can’t pull it together this fall

After posting winning records in 1998 (11-6-1) and 1999 (10-7-1), the team has faltered against Div. I opponents, going 4-13-1 in 2000
Brien Shanahan - Sports Editor

Eamon Siggins / Photo Editor
Junior midfielder Stephen Neuman battles for a header against his Oneonta opponent in a tough 2-1 OT loss at home on Saturday.

Sometimes a team just can’t win, be it the championship game or just regular season contests. As the Buffalo Bills of the 90s couldn’t win a Super Bowl in three tries, the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs haven’t won a world series in almost a century, and the LA Clippers haven’t finished with a .500 win percentage (like...ever), the 2001 Binghamton University Men’s soccer team can’t buy a win (0-12).

Red Sox fans blame the teams’s misfortune on “The Curse of the Bambino,” which dates back to 1918 when the team dealt the great Babe Ruth to the Yankees for cash, and they haven’t won a World Series since. Similarly, whatever has jinxed the men’s soccer team seems to have no end in sight. Perhaps it’s the curse of a Div. II caliber team playing in Div. I, or maybe it’s just mental, like why Chuck Knoblauch can’t throw to first base from 15 feet away.

After posting winning records in 1998 (11-6-1) and 1999 (10-7-1), the team has faltered against Div. I opponents, going 4-13-1 in 2000. On the upside, the Bearcats have kept many games close, losing seven of their 12 defeats by a single goal.

However, BU’s offense has been non-existent. In 2000, they were held to only 20 goals on the season, an average of 1.1 per game, and were shutout eight times. After returning seven starters and 21 letterwinners, the Bearcats are winless in 2001 and have been outscored 32-10 and blanked five times, netting less than a goal per game (.833).

“I feel that we have a better team than last year,” said Coach Hristos Dimitriou. “We don’t deserve to be 0-12. We just can’t catch any breaks.”

BU’s latest loss, a 2-1 overtime heartbreaker at home against the State University of New York at Oneonta showed what kind of season it has been for the Bearcats. The loss was BU’s fourth overtime defeat this year, and the third in the last three weeks.

The Bearcats followed a narrow 1-0 OT loss on Sept. 30 against Howard University with a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Adelphi University on Oct. 6.

The team bounced back the following week but couldn’t put away Philadelphia University, giving up the tying goal with only one second remaining in regulation, and then losing in the second overtime period. The State University of New Yokr at Buffalo then sent the Bearcats home after posting a 2-0 W on Tuesday.

Of all the losses for BU this season, Saturday’s may have been the most emotional. In a tight match, BU finally struck a goal from senior Michael Procknal III, to tie the game at one with only 47 seconds remaining in regulation. The Bearcats rode their momentum into overtime and seemed destined for their win.

It all came crashing down only five minutes later, however, when senior Gianni Di Ciollo, who had an otherwise stellar game, shanked a punt, giving Oneonta’s Jme Amoako an easy scoring opportunity, which he finished effortlessly, shattering BU’s dream of a victory.

“At this level of competition, even a single play can make a difference,” said Coach Dimitriou. “Gianni had been punting well all game, so our defenders didn’t stay back... it was just an unlucky play.”

Dimitriou’s squad has had problems with continuity in their lineup due to injuries, but it welcomed back senior Motty Gutflais on Saturday, who was playing for the first time since the opener against Central Connecticut State University on August 31. Gutflais saw limited action, but he posted an assist on Procknal’s goal.

The team has even changed from a 4-4-2 formation to a 3-5-2, in hopes of producing more scoring opportunites, but to no avail.

They desperately need to put some scores in the back of the net in this last stretch of the season, which Dimitriou believes will be more challenging.

Despite the unflattering record, Dimitriou is proud of his players. “They have shown tremendous character this season,” said Dimitriou. “They go out every game and give their best, no matter what their record is.”

BU will continue their quest for the elusive first win when they host Long Island University on Wednesday before hitting the road for their next four matches, starting with a midday Saturday contest at Bucknell University.