Syracuse University
Binghamton
Orange Kicks Off 2009 At Binghamton
8/31/2009 5:33:44 PM | Men's Soccer
Game Notes | Live Video | Live Stats
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse men's soccer team (0-0) opens the 2009 campaign on the road against Binghamton (0-0) on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Bearcats Sports Complex. The match is the season opener for both teams and represents the first meeting between the two schools since 2006.
The Binghamton contest marks the first time since the 2003 season that Syracuse will start the year with a true away match (in 2007 the Orange opened the year against Penn State in a neutral-site match as part of the Bert and Iris Wolstein Classic hosted by Ohio State).
SU IN SEASON OPENERS
The Orange is 38-31-5 all-time in season-opening games and has won its campaign starter in each of the last four years. SU began the year with a 1-0 victory against Marist in 2005, a 3-1 win versus Niagara in 2006, a 4-0 trouncing of Penn State in 2007 at the Wolstein Classic in Columbus, Ohio, and a 3-0 home victory against Canisius last season. Syracuse won six straight season openers from 1934-39 and from 1975-80, the longest season-opening winning streaks in school history.
NON-CONFERENCE DOMINANCE
The Orange's 3-2 victory versus Adelphi on Oct. 21, 2008 extended its school-record, non-conference unbeaten streak to 20 matches. Syracuse is 12-0-8 in non-league encounters since losing at home to Oneonta on Oct. 12, 2005. The Orange's current non-conference unbeaten streak is the longest in the nation. Akron, which hasn't lost a non-league clash in its last 13 outings heading into 2009, owns the nation's next longest non-conference match unbeaten streak.
Syracuse is the only BIG EAST team not to lose a non-conference game from 2006 to 2008. SU's undefeated non-conference record in 2006 represented the first time since BIG EAST regular-season competition began in 1985 that SU maneuvered through is non-league slate without a loss.
PEREVEGYENCEV RETURNS AS SU'S TOP GOALS SCORER
Senior forward Tom Perevegyencev returns for his senior campaign in 2009. Last year, Perevegyencev tied Spencer Schomaker for the team lead with six goals. Perevegyencev played in all 17 games in 2008 and recorded career highs in goals (2) and points (4) in SU season-opening win against Canisius.
SCOUTING BINGHAMTON
The Bearcats are coming off a 12-6-3 season that saw them advance to the championship game of the America East Tournament for the sixth straight year. Binghamton was particularly tough at home last season, finishing with a 6-0-1 home mark.
Earlier this summer, Binghamton was picked to finish second in the conference behind Boston University by the league's head coaches. Sophomore forward Andy Tiedt is the team's leading returning scorer. Tiedt was named to the America East All-Rookie Team in 2008 after finishing the year with two goals and three assists in 21 games. The Bearcats also return senior goalie Jason Stenta to anchor the defense. Stenta recorded a 0.55 goals-against average, which ranked 10th nationally last year. He made 100 saves and posted 11 shutouts.
Binghamton is coached by Paul Marco, who is entering his eighth year at the helm of the program. Marco has a 76-44-28 record since taking over the Bearcats. He has guided the team to a pair of America East championships (2003, 2006) and two conference regular-season titles (2006, 2007). Under Marco, the Bearcats have posted six straight winning seasons.
SYRACUSE-BINGHAMTON SERIES
Syracuse has won the last two meetings with Bearcats, however, Binghamton leads the all-time series, 3-2-0, on the strength of three straight wins from 1971-75. The Orange posted a 2-1 victory in the 1976 meeting to score its first victory in the series. Following the 1976 contest, the rivalry was dormant for 30 years before it was renewed again in 2006. The Orange also got the better of the Bearcats in that match, winning 1-0 on a goal by midfielder Richard Asante in the 76th minute.
