Binghamton University

MEN'S SOCCER DAILY UPDATE

November 4, 2008

Championship Inspiration

Back on March 18, head coach Paul Marco and the men's soccer team ended a training session by heading up to a press conference in the Events Center. Five days earlier, Rory Quiller captured the NCAA Division I indoor pole vault title and Marco decided the best way for the program to honor Binghamton's first-ever Division I national champion was for his entire squad to attend the event. It also gave the players some inspiration from which they can draw upon for their own title quest, which begins this week.

"We wanted to honor our first (Division I) national champion," Marco said. "It's certainly something all of our student athletes are looking up to. Anytime you are honoring someone, there is a little bit of inspiration you take back in your own lives and your own sport. Certainly I think our guys got that message."

"It was good to see us have our first national champion," senior midfielder Justin Leskow said. "Rory works hard, he is very dedicated and that's what got him there."

Quiller was already a two-time NCAA Division I All-American when he entered the 2008 Indoor Championship on March 14 at the University of Arkansas. After finishing second in the 2007 indoor meet, he was favored to win in all last winter. The pressure was tremendous but Quiller delivered. He was the only vaulter at the meet to clear 18-0.

"What Rory did showed us how hard we had to work to achieve such a high honor," junior goalkeeper Jason Stenta said. "Nothing was handed to him. Going into the conference tournament, nothing is going to be handed to us either."

"People weren't sure if it was possible for Binghamton to have a national champion but (Rory) showed that with hard work, it can be done," senior midfielder Barry Neville said.

Having advanced to the past five America East finals, the men's soccer program is used to setting and attaining high goals. Still, they continue to draw inspiration from Quiller as they head into the playoffs.

"He is an inspiration to us all," junior forward Cameron Keith said. "Above all, he is a really nice guy. I just talked to him before coming out to training (Quiller is now an assistant coach with the Binghamton track & field program). He is down to earth. We sort of emulate him in doing what he has done."

Keith will graduate in May but from talking to Quiller, he hopes to see him again in person in the not-too-distant future.

"He was telling me today that he is hoping to get to the London in 2012 (where the next Summer Olympics will be held)," Keith said. "I told him that wasn't far from where I live so I will be watching out for him."

Posted November 4, 2008. 5 p.m.
Feedback should be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu.

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