For the Binghamton University men’s soccer team, the America East championship is in sight. There’s just one problem ‘ Vermont, Binghamton’s biggest rival, stands in the way. And for the two teams that met in last year’s America East final, there’s bad blood.

On Saturday at 7 p.m., the Bearcats, in a rematch of the 2006 title game, will host the Catamounts with the 2007 AE crown on the line.

‘Vermont will cause us some problems in that they’re hard, they’re competitive [and] they’re pissed off at us for various reasons,’ said Bearcat coach Paul Marco. ‘They’re bringing their ‘A’ game to play against us because of maybe who we are, what we stand for [and] how we play.’

UVM head coach Jesse Cormier, who was an assistant coach with Marco at West Virginia, vowed that there was more to come from the Catamounts after dropping last year’s final.

The final will feature two evenly matched, but stylistically varied teams. Binghamton is technically sound and plays a speedy, high-scoring game, whereas Vermont is physical, preferring grind-it-out games.

‘The first time we played them, it was really physical, but our field is a lot quicker than theirs is,’ said junior midfielder Justin Leskow. ‘We’ll be able to move the ball quicker and use our technical abilities to hopefully get the ball behind them.’

‘Technical ability alone won’t beat them,’ said striker Cameron Keith. ‘We need to compete hard as well.’

Keith is the conference’s best scoring threat, but Vermont has a pair of strikers in T.J. Gore and Lee Kouadio, who have combined for six goals and six assists. Furthermore, the Catamounts have had nine players score goals.

‘I think the game’s going to be one where any moment any player on the field can win the game for them,’ Marco said. ‘I think Lee is a special player, and so is T.J., but as you’re paying attention to them you have to pay attention to everybody else.’

Binghamton has been terrific at home. The Bearcats have not lost in 20 consecutive home games and are a perfect 7-0 at the new Bearcats Sports Complex in 2007. They have scored 15 goals and allowed only one at home. But Vermont has streaked into the finals, shutting out six straight opponents, including Binghamton.

After dropping three late AE road games, Binghamton is a long-shot to receive an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament should it falter on Saturday.

Binghamton has reached an impressive five straight title matches, winning in 2003 and 2006. The Bearcats are hoping to be the first conference team to win consecutive titles since Boston University in 1997.

‘We’re the champions and everyone raises their game when they play the champions,’ Keith said.

Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. at the Bearcats Sports Complex. Once again, the athletic department will cover Binghamton student tickets.