MEN'S SOCCER DAILY UPDATE

November 9, 2008

Fall at Binghamton

When the Binghamton Athletic Department joined the America East Conference seven years ago, the fall sports teams experienced a time of transition. None of the Bearcat squads qualified for the conference tournament and including cross country, the best any of the squads could finish was sixth place. Fast forward to 2008 and things are very different. A look at the events of the past two weekends best illustrates that fact.

One day after the men's soccer team earned a trip to Albany for an America East semifinal game, there was another showdown between the Bearcats and Great Danes taking place at West Gym. It was a volleyball match which was a battle for first place in the America East Conference.

Under the leadership of 10th-year head coach Glenn Kiriyama, the volleyball squad has already locked up its fifth consecutive trip to the America East Tournament. They are in position for their third second-place finish in the past four seasons. Three years ago, Binghamton won the America East Conference title.

In 2002, the volleyball team played before sparse crowds at the East Gym. Six years later, backed by the support of several other BU teams, it plays before sometimes deafening crowds at the West Gym.

This season, Binghamton was picked to finish fourth in the America East Conference. Coming off a tough non-conference schedule, that appeared to be what would happen. Instead, the volleyball program is currently the hottest fall team on campus, having won 11 of its previous 12 matches heading into Sunday's first-place showdown against the Great Danes.

One week ago at Stony Brook, the women's soccer program concluded its fifth straight appearance in the America East Tournament. Like the volleyball squad, the women's soccer squad appeared destined for a rebuilding season under first-year head coach Sarah McClellan.

Prior to this season, the women's soccer team had advanced to the America East semifinals three times in the previous four seasons. In 2004, the Bearcats swept both the conference regular season and tournament titles. With an injury-depleted squad, however, Binghamton needed an overtime win at Vermont in the regular-season finale to clinch the No. 6 spot.

All of the frustration of the regular season was quickly put to rest when the women's soccer team headed up to No. 3 New Hampshire and beat the Wildcats 1-0. Although they'd lose 2-0 to Stony Brook in the finals, the Bearcats proved they are still a factor in the postseason.

While the volleyball and women's soccer teams continued their string of post season appearances, the 2008 campaign marked the emergence of the men's cross country program. Having never finished higher than sixth place at the America East Championships, the Bearcats placed third at last weekend's meet in Baltimore. On the regional level, Binghamton has been ranked among the top 15 teams in the Northeast this season.

Next week, the cross country team heads to the Northeast Regional Championships. A top-15 finish would truly cement the Bearcats' status as an up-and-coming program. With all of their top runners back next year, things could be even better in the seasons ahead.

Five years ago, when the men's soccer team broke through and won the America East title, the other fall sports programs were still trying to attain their first post season appearances.

Since then, however, the rest of the fall sports programs have also made their mark. The men's soccer team hopes to continue the athletic departments sterling 2008 fall season on Wednesday at Albany.

Posted November 9, 2008. 9 p.m.
Feedback should be sent to dobrian@binghamton.edu.