If the Binghamton University men’s lacrosse team signed up for a reality show, the song that would play following Saturday’s regionally televised Senior Day matchup against Stony Brook University would have to be the chorus of “In the End” by Linkin Park. They tried so hard and got so far, but in the end it didn’t even matter.
The Seawolves (7-4, 3-1 America East) edged out Binghamton in sudden death on just 15 seconds into overtime.
It almost looked like a win for the Bearcats, as they held the 6-5 lead in the last minute of the fourth quarter, but in the closing seconds, SBU senior Rhys Duch gained possession of the ball and passed it to freshman Jordan McBride who then tied the score and threw the tilt into overtime.
The match came to a blunt end after SBU freshman midfield Adam Rand clinched the faceoff and passed the ball to freshman midfielder Kevin Crowley, who then plowed through the Bearcats’ defense and placed the winning shot to end the score 7-6.
“I don’t think it’s more disappointing just because it’s Senior Day, just disappointing in general,” said junior goaltender Larry Kline. “It’s a huge game for us to play well on defense and hold the team that averages 13 goals and six goals in regulation. That was a goal of ours and we met that goal. It’s just a real disappointment, not only is it in sudden death overtime but it’s a conference game, it can mean implications for playoffs.”
The Bearcats matched up to the No. 2 ranked team in the America East on many levels. Binghamton outshot SBU 35-24 and had a total of 11 points, which was the same record the Seawolves had. BU sophomore attack Andy Cook also scored three goals, the same as McBride and Crowley.
Still, Stony Brook had its own strengths. Seawolves sophomore goalkeeper Rob Camposa held nine saves while Mcbride had the game-high total three goals and one assist. The team also caused 21 turnovers and picked up 34 ground balls.
“You can always look back and say you wish you did that and you wish you did this,” Kline said. “I think a lot of players wish they picked up one more ground ball. Personally, I wish I made one more save, which could have made a huge difference down the stretch, but it just couldn’t happen.”
The match was a story of push and pull from the start. Stony Brook placed the first goal of the game in the middle of the first quarter only to have Cook come back six seconds later to even it up. With 13 seconds left in the period, Cook fired in his second shot to put Binghamton up 2-1.
Binghamton led 4-3 at halftime, but Stony Brook rallied to even the score at 5 heading into the final frame.
The Bearcats then took back the lead during the fourth quarter as sophomore attack Jeff Rurey put in a goal with 1:45 remaining, but McBride came back at the final minute to tie the score once again and blow it into overtime.
The Bearcats have one more game left before the regular season comes to a close, at Hartford on Saturday, and it could decide whether or not they get to play in the America East Conference Championships in May.
“The focus is there, but we just have to play,” said Kline. “It could be our last game, and I think everyone needs to play like it’s their last game … You need to give 100 percent while you have the opportunity to do so. We are going to come out on top this weekend.”
“Our philosophy now is do or die,” said senior midfielder Stephen Smith. “Now that the ball’s in our court, we hold our own destiny. Even though [Hartford is] winless this year, they’ve been in the game with Stony Brook. They just can’t play the whole 60 minutes together, sort of like us.”