Article

Men’s soccer wins first of season, but can’t ride the momentum

1 BINGHAMTON 0 LONG ISLAND UNIV. (OT), 4 BUCKNELL 0 BINGHAMTON
Brien Shanahan - Sports Editor

Following their first win in 19 tries, the Binghamton University men’s soccer team got back to their losing ways at Bucknell University, where they were routed 4-0. The landmark emotional win came against Long Island University (6-5-4) on Wednesday. It was their first since Oct. 13, 2000 when they handed Mercy College a 3-0 defeat.

The Bearcats couldn’t match the level of intensity against Bucknell, however. “We came out flat and just didn’t play up to our potential,” said sophmore Rodney Rigg.

“We had to get up early and travel to Bucknell,” said Coach Hristos Dimitriou. “But there shouldn’t be any excuses at this level...we just didn’t come out to play.”

Scoring has been the biggest problem for Binghamton since moving up to Div. I competition, as their 4-0 defeat marked the sixth time they have been held scoreless this season and the fourteenth in the last two years.

Against Bucknell, Binghamton was unable to keep the game close as they have so often done this year (seven games lost by one goal).

“We had some good scoring chances, but couldn’t finish,” said Dimitriou. “They only had one good goal against us, but the others slipped by because of our mistakes. We don’t have one single scoring threat, so for us to be successful, our whole team must play well.”

The mistakes came in bunches for the Bearcats, as they surrendered three goals in a 10 minute span during the first half, in a game where they were only outshot 19-15.

BU cannot afford to make mistakes against Florida International University on Friday, a team that beat them 3-0 last year. “For us to be successful,” said Dimitriou, “we must keep the game simple and outwork our opponents, using our fitness to our advantage.”

They will need to be in good shape when they travel to Florida, where the weather may be a factor. The Bearcats should remember to pack their sunscreen as they depart from the frost-covered practice fields of Vestal, NY to the sweltering fields of South Florida for this midday contest.