Tracking a Dynasty
2003
The Binghamton University men’s soccer team started its reign in 2003 with a 4-1-4 America East Conference season, in which it scored no more than two goals a game. With seven games tied and only three games dropped for the entire season, the Bearcats quickly made their way to the top.
The team faced off against Hartford in the AE semifinals and former defender Graham Munro put in the single goal to win the game. Northeastern, then a member of the AE, took on the Bearcats in the finals. Both teams were deadlocked at one goal apiece through regulation and two overtime periods, throwing the game into a penalty kick showdown. The Bearcats won the game and the tournament, 3-2, after former forward Stephen Bruce placed in the game-winning penalty kick.
Binghamton continued to showcase its talent by winning in its first round of the NCAA championship against Fairleigh Dickinson, 1-0. Former midfielder Joey Neilson netted the winning shot. Binghamton’s season ended in the second round with a 1-0 overtime to St. Louis.
2004
The Bearcats had a 4-2-3 conference record in 2004 when they lost their last game against rival Albany. Binghamton, however, avenged its loss against the Great Danes by defeating them in the semifinals 3-1.
In the finals against Boston University, the Bearcats led the game 2-1 with 6:29 remaining, but karma from 2003 struck back as the Terriers tied the game during regulation and then took the AE title by winning the game 5-3 in penalty kicks.
2005
The Bearcats were 4-2-2 in the 2005 conference season, giving up no more than a goal in all but one regular season match.
History seemed to repeat itself, but this time in favor of the Bearcats, as they defeated Boston University in the first round of the playoffs 5-3 on penalty kicks off a 1-1 tie. Although Binghamton had a stunning 4-1 victory over UMBC in the semifinals, the Bearcats lost the AE title to Stony Brook again on penalty kicks to 2-4.
Matt Narode had a team-high seven goals while goalkeeper Ryan Bertoni made 53 saves for the season.
2006
Binghamton University was a force to be reckoned with in 2006, gathering a conference record of 6-1-1, the lone loss coming to Boston University. Present junior Jason Stenta made his debut this season and took a key role in the playoffs. From a game that was tied 1-1, Stenta dove and blocked Boston University’s final penalty kick in the semifinals to have them win the nail-biting shootout, 6-5.
The Bearcats faced-off against Vermont in the finals where current senior Barry Neville, with 58 seconds remaining in the first overtime, netted a penalty kick and won the game 1-0. After four years of making it into the finals, two regular season titles and winning two championships, Binghamton University had officially become a dynasty.
2007
BU soccer saw a lot of things come to fruition in 2007 — the debut of Cameron Keith, the birth of the Bearcat Hooligans, the growth of its fan base and most importantly, its fifth year as a dynasty. Binghamton was 5-3-0 in conference play and had a six-game home winning streak. The Bearcats defeated UMBC in the semifinals 1-0 with a goal by current senior Cody Germain assisted by current senior Justin Leskow.
The final against Vermont took a nasty turn for the Bearcats as Stenta was screened and gave up the game’s only goal 19 minutes and 22 seconds into first period. No matter what Binghamton did, it just could not get past Vermont goalkeeper Roger Scully. In effect Vermont dethroned the Bearcats and took the title as AE champions. Still, for five years the Bearcats have made themselves the prime opponents in the finals. Seen by 2,078 fans, the match marked the largest turnout at the Bearcat Sports Complex.