Down just two goals to No. 12 Maryland-Baltimore County, the Binghamton University men’s lacrosse team was poised to take control of the game.
But despite winning momentum heading into the fourth period, the Bearcats (2-5, 0-2 America East) turned the ball over in crucial moments and tired as the Retrievers (7-3, 2-0 AE) pulled away for a 10-5 victory Saturday at the Bearcats Sports Complex.
Down 6-1 early in the third period, the Bearcats ended the frame on a 3-0 run, which was capped off by an Andy Cook goal off a difficult feed from junior Duncan Streetan. But seemingly every time Binghamton scored and won an important faceoff down the stretch, UMBC was able to come away with a turnover or save to start a fast break going the other way.
“After our shots and turnovers we weren’t getting back on defense quickly enough,” said Bearcat senior keeper Larry Kline. “We had too many turnovers for that point in the game. When we were worn down, they scored two or three transition goals in the fourth quarter.”
UMBC sophomore Matt Latham, who scored a career-best five goals, matched Binghamton’s entire offense, currently scoring the lowest amount in Division I.
“We were trying to push the ball whenever we could, to get 5-on-4, 4-on-3, whatever advantage we could in the fast break,” Latham said.
In one memorable sequence, Latham took a shot that hit the post, got his own rebound and scored off a wild shot. Latham was fouled on the shot and on the ensuing man-up possession, scored yet another goal to put the Retrievers up 5-1.
“I don’t think he’s one of the players that we anticipated,” Kline said. “They’re No. 12 in the country, so obviously every kid on their team is a very good player and can put up numbers, but I don’t think we keyed so much on him. To be honest, I was thinking more about [Maxx] Davis and [Terry] Kimener.”
Latham may not have been on the scouting report, but the Retriever who was — the senior midfielder Kimener — scored three goals in the fourth period to seal the win.
Binghamton spent four and a half minutes in man-down penalty situations. Senior Kevin McCarthy was assessed with a three minute, non-releasable penalty during a timeout in the second period after the pocket of his stick was deemed illegal by officials.
UMBC is now tied for first place in the America East, while the Bearcats, after a four game losing streak, are left reeling in the conference’s basement, tied with 0-10 Hartford.
To have any hope of turning around their season, the Bearcats will need to find an identity on offense.
“Again, when you play 75 to 80 percent of the time on defense in the first half, it’s going to come back to bite you,” Kline said. “We’re not getting down on each other, but in the same sense you get frustrated. You score a couple of goals and think the momentum’s going your way, and then they come back and smack you in the face.”
Still, Binghamton has only played the AE’s two best teams, UMBC and Albany, and now looks forward to an easier slate of conference games.
“Negative things are contagious,” Kline said. “We’re not quitting. We’re not like that. We are losing, but you have to keep a positive attitude.”