Syracuse and Binghamton Restore Soccer Series Wednesday
9/19/2006 5:29:58 PM | Men's Soccer
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Orange (3-4-0) and Binghamton Bearcats (2-4-3) oppose each other on the pitch for the first time since 1976 when the two teams meet at the SU Soccer Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 20 at 7:00 p.m. It will be the fifth match between the New York neighbors and the third and final game for the Orange during its season-high, three-match homestand.
Syracuse has lost its last four games after beginning the season with three consecutive wins. In its most recent outing against Connecticut on Sept. 17, the Orange were shut out for the second time in 2006, 2-0. Syracuse has had success versus non-league foes this year, posting a 3-0 mark against out-of-conference opponents in 2006.
SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Binghamton started the season 0-3-1, including a 3-0 defeat at the hands of then-No. 1 Maryland. Since then, the Bearcats have gone 2-1-2 in their last five contests. Their only loss during that stretch was in overtime at Florida Atlantic, 1-0. Binghamton registered its first victory of the campaign on Sept. 3 against Long Island, 4-3. In their most recent pairing, the Bearcats scored a 1-0 victory against Hartwick on Sept. 16, an opponent the Orange will face on Oct. 10 at the SU Soccer Stadium.
Binghamton has already played nine matches this year and is averaging less than a goal per game (0.82). Two of its eight tallies have come on penalty-kick opportunities. Cody Germain is the only Binghamton player with more than one goal on the season and leads the team with two scores. He also has two of the Bearcats four assists for a total of six points. Peter Sgueglia ranks second on the club with four points. Binghamton coach Paul Marco has used his two goalkeepers fairly evenly this season. Jason Stenta has played five games and just over 494 minutes in net. He has 19 saves, a 1.09 goals against average, two shutouts and a 2-1 overall record. Ryan Pertoni has seen time in four contests (380 minutes) has 16 saves and sports a 1.66 goals against average.
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
The Orange has posted a 24-16-5 record against non-BIG EAST opponents since 2000 and SU is 3-0-0 versus non-league foes in 2006. In the last six full seasons, the Orange has finished at .500 or better in non-conference matches five times. The only year it didn’t was in 2004 when SU was 2-5 in non-league encounters. Since the beginning of the 2005 capaign, the Orange is 7-1-3 in non BIG EAST clashes.
THE SYRACUSE-BINGHAMTON SERIES
Despite the proximity of the two clubs, Syracuse and Binghamton have met just four times previously and have not squared off since 1976. The Bearcats own a 3-1 advantage in the series with SU’s only win coming in 1976, by the score of 2-1. Binghamton won the first three encounters, including a 3-0 shutout of the Orange in 1972. The Bearcats defeated the Orange twice when they were known as Harpur before the school changed its name to Binghamton University.
