When Binghamton University routed Colgate 2-0 last season, the Red Raiders’ starting keeper David Cappucio watched from the sideline as his backup let in two goals. Last Friday, Cappucio had his revenge.
Cappucio made a fantastic save to turn back a BU penalty kick and preserve a 1-1 tie against Binghamton’s men’s soccer team. The Bearcats then recovered to down Central Arkansas 2-0 on Sunday to finish the Colgate Tournament.
In the 55th minute against Colgate (2-0-2), junior striker Cameron Keith was brought down in the restricted area and Binghamton captain Barry Neville took the ensuing penalty kick.
But before Neville even kicked his shot, Cappucio guessed the ball’s destination and made a fantastic save.
Binghamton (2-1-1) started the game by dominating the ball early, but Colgate junior Alex Weekes scored an early goal off a set piece.
“At the start of the match, if you were watching, you’d say there’s no way that Binghamton’s going to lose this game,” BU head coach Paul Marco said. “[Colgate] scored a fantastic set piece goal against the run of play. Their guys are wonderful players. I give them a lot of credit. At home they’re really difficult to play against.”
Bearcat sophomore Scott Zobre then scored in the 40th minute to even the score at one.
Jason Stenta made 10 saves in the match, including five in the second overtime period, to ensure that Binghamton left the game with points.
Binghamton was buoyed by the chants of two dozen members of the BU Hooligans, who made the trip to support the Bearcats.
While Colgate entered the weekend with strong credentials, including first place in the Patriot League preseason poll, Central Arkansas scored only one goal in three games before facing Binghamton.
The Bearcats began the scoring in the first half when forward Andy Tiedt found Keith for a chip-in goal.
Tiedt, a highly recruited freshman, broke the New York goal scoring record last year as a senior in Akron. He has seen increasing playing time as the season has unfolded.
“Every year we expect a few freshmen to step up and play right away,” Marco said. “[Tiedt] was one of them. We think that some of these guys can do it, but you really don’t know until they get in. He’s big, strong and athletic so it’s an easier transition for him than some of the freshmen who aren’t as big and strong.
Later in the half, senior Justin Leskow found senior Darren McAllister for a goal.
Unlike in the match against Colgate, Stenta was never seriously tested against Central Arkansas. He did not need to make a save in the game and won his first shutout of the season. Central Arkansas is a young team that typically starts seven or eight freshmen in its matches.
“We had to let them know that it was a competitive match early,” Marco said. “By the end of the game I was disappointed that we only had two goals because we played well enough to have five or six. But that’s soccer.”
Notes:
Tiedt, Keith, Stenta and Neville were named to the all-tournament team. Though Binghamton and Colgate each recorded a win and a draw, the Red Raiders won the tournament title by virtue of their goal differential. Senior Liam Carson, who had scored in each of the first two matches, sustained an injury in practice and missed the Colgate Tournament. He is listed at day-to-day.