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BU Men's Soccer Fall Clinic
Bearcats to hold event Oct. 5 from 9-noon
September 2, 2014Tweet
Where: Binghamton University Athletic Fields (Multi-Sport Turf Fields)
When: October 5, 2014 (Sunday), 9:00 am- 12:00 pm
Cost: $50.00 per player. Pay by Credit Card by calling 607-777-2849 (BTIX) or by check (checks payable to Binghamton University) Admission to BU Women's Match at 1pm can be purchased for $3.
Age: Limited spaces available, open to all players' currently in 10th grade and above.
Details: Comprehensive field sessions including technical and tactical training with University staff as well as organized matches. Classroom session as well as tour of facilities and fitness testing with Strength and Conditioning Staff.
Binghamton Men's Soccer Daily Update (as of September 2)
Tracking the Bearcats throughout the 2014 Season
September 2, 2014Tweet
Marist Wrap Up
Some final thoughts and notes from the BU men's soccer team's home opener against Marist:
Home Field Support
The crowd of 1,225 for the match against Marist marked the largest season-opening crowd at the Bearcats Sports Complex since the 2009 opener against Syracuse (2,063). It also marked the 13th time since the facility opened in 2007 that a crowd of at least 1,000 has attended a Bearcat men's soccer game.
"It was a very impressive crowd," Alan Duff said. "We really appreciated them all coming out tonight. It's a shame we couldn't get the result but it was a very impressive night for them."
"It was magnificent," Pascal Trappe added. "A lot of people came out, especially the athletes. The BU Zoo was extraordinary and were trying to get us to score a goal, so it was really good."
Between the crowd on Monday and the Thursday night training session, which was open to all freshmen, the Bearcats have enjoyed substantial attention on campus this week.
"We've gotten a lot of attention this week," Trappe said. "Now we got to keep working hard and getting the results so they will be happy."
A New Kit
Monday's game also brought out the Bearcats latest kit, which included green and white stripped jerseys.
Last year, assistant coach Nic Rossi surprised the team by walking into the meeting room wearing their new green and black kit the morning of the home opener. The players had no idea that a new kit had even been ordered but applauded once they found out.
This year, however, the Bearcats found out the news in a different way.
"We saw it on the team's (social media) page this morning," Duff said. "I got a text from Dowser (2005 BU men's soccer alum Graham Munro) afterwards talking about it."
"I like them a lot," Trappe said. "They look good but now we have to win in them."
Congratulations to 2005 BU men's soccer alum Darius Ravangard, who was married this weekend to BU track and cross country alum Ashley Cornelius. Other Bearcat soccer alums who were in attendance included Phil Grommet and Bryan Arnault.
Posted September 2, 2014 at 5 p.m.
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Leftovers from Bucknell
Although the home openers against Marist is only four hours away, here are some thoughts from the Bearcats following Friday night's 2-1 win at Bucknell:
Tommy Moon
"It was a match that we had to grind through. The first half was difficult but in the second half, we created some chances and were able to finish them. It's great to start the season with a win."
Luca Bottoni
"I think we improved throughout the match. It was important to us to battle during the first half and we showed our quality later on with two second-half goals. It will be awesome going into the home opener with a win already."
Jamie Forbes
"Our performance was great in the second half and I thought our energy and fight improved greatly from the first half. It feels great to start the season with a win but we still need to continue to build and get better."
10 Years Later
Would you believe that the last meeting between Binghamton and Marist came exactly 10 years ago today? Check out the recap from the 2004 season opener, which the Bearcats won 3-2.
Posted September 1, 2014
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Final Thoughts
Following Thursday night's training session, head coach Paul Marco and the team spoke about the upcoming season opener against Bucknell:
Head Coach Paul Marco
"I really enjoy playing against Bucknell. They are always well organized and well coached. This year, they have two or three pretty special kids up front."
"I think that the attack for both teams will be fun to watch tomorrow. Hopefully, we put on a good performance and the guys come out and compete hard and use what we have worked on for the last 14-15 days to our advantage."
Senior back Derrick Ladeairous
"As a team, Bucknell is very strong. They compete really well but I think this year we are a lot better than we were in the previous years. I think we will compete with them pretty well in our first game of the season."
Junior goalkeeper Stefano Frantellizzi
"We have been training well. Everything has been going as planned so hopefully, we will be ready for tomorrow night. We are excited to see what will happen."
Sophomore midfielder Mike Kubik
"I think we have improved our speed of play. I think we have all come together during preseason both as friends and as teammates. We are pretty hungry and want to get after it on Friday."
Posted August 29, 2014
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A Welcome and a Sendoff
On Thursday night, the BU men's soccer team held its final training session before heading to Bucknell for Friday's regular-season opener. But even as the Bearcats prepared to leave, there was a festive atmosphere, thanks to 3,000 incoming freshman, who showed up at the Bearcats Sports Complex.
Each year, the university hosts move-in day in August when the incoming class arrives on campus. After settling in their dorms, the newcomers head to the Events Center for the official university welcoming ceremony.
Since the ceremony ended at 7 p.m., the Bearcats knew they would be training at that time. The timing worked together so the freshmen could attend the end-of-the-day BBQ right next to the Bearcats Sports Complex. From there, they filled the stadium to watch the team training and to hear from Coach Marco and the players.
"This is outstanding," Marco said. "I am pleased with our guys' performance today so far and I thought the crowd was very good. If this the future of Binghamton University, it's bright. If we can get some of this group for our home opener on Monday, it would be outstanding."
Marco welcomed the crowd and then each of the players introduced themselves.
"This is great," senior back Derrick Ladeairous said. "It's the first year we have done this and it's great to get everyone interacted."
The evening ended with volunteers from the crowd taking part in a corner kick contest, with Bearcat scarves going to the two winners.
"It's been really cool to see all the fans here," junior goalkeeper Stefano Frantellizzi said. "It gets us ready for the games."
"I can't say I've had a training session like this before," sophomore back Mike Kubik said. "It's been nice having the freshmen come out. Hopefully this rallies up a good crowd for our games."
For a photo gallery of the event, click on the link below
Posted August 28, 2014 at 8 p.m.
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Catch Up Time
Few things bring this blogger's job to a halt more than getting a new computer. That is what happened yesterday, leaving me for a good part of the day without access to my hard drive. So with everything now in place, let's do some catching up a day late.
More Thoughts on the Home Promotional Schedule
For those of you who have yet to see it, the BU men's soccer team released its home-game promotional schedule yesterday.
Here is the link to the article:
Coach Marco had some specific thoughts on a few specific events, starting with the Military Day game against Army on Sept. 10. With the Sept. 11 anniversary the following day, the tie-in seemed ideal.
"When we looked at our schedule and our home games, we tried to come up with some events that made sense to our community," he said. "We are thrilled to have Army come up here and play us. They are a terrific team and we hope a lot of military personnel will come out to watch the game. We are still working on the details but I know we will have a recognition throughout the game and at halftime."
Another event that Marco and the team are looking forward to is International Day on Oct. 4 against Hartford. For years, the Bearcat roster had been filled with players from all around the globe.
"I think International Day is going to be a wonderful event," Marco said. "I saw the Events Center crowded the other night with all of the international newcomers coming in for a dinner."
The Red Card Cancer program, which the team supported during the spring season, is a cause that means a lot to Marco and the team. It will be part of two home games this year.
"It's a great program," he said. "The organization was started by a friend of mine who is the head coach at Bloomsburg University. They have done a tremendous job at raising funds and awareness for cancer."
With the scarf now a part of the season ticket package, Marco was asked if former BU Soccer Hooligan President Erwin Seguia has purchased one.
"I certainly will make sure he has one," Marco said. "If he does not, I'll give him mine."
Early Morning Shopper
On his way into work yesterday, Coach Marco did what he has done for the past two weeks, stocked up on breakfast for the team at Walmart. We spotted him in line yesterday with a full cart and he said he had been there on a daily basis until the team moves into their dorms today.
"I think I have seen the people at Walmart more than I have seen my wife and two kids," he said. "They know who I am by now but I let the guys sleep in today so this is a different staff."
Posted on August 28, 2014 at 8:43 a.m.
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The End of Preseason
The BU men's soccer team is now in regular season mode, with single training sessions this week in preparation for Friday night's game at Bucknell. Here are some quotes from Coach Marco and the players about the progression of the team:
Head Coach Paul Marco
"I think we have made great strides during the preseason. We have certainly grown on the field. I think the guys have a better understanding of what we are looking for when we have the ball and when the opponent has the ball."
"We've done a pretty good job of getting to know each other a little bit. We have some new faces this preseason. In that regard, it's been quite a good two weeks."
"I thought we did some pretty good things in the (exhibition) game against Navy (on Friday) but they are a very good and well-coached team that showed us some things to work on this week."
Tommy Moon
"I think the team is coming together nicely. The freshmen and settling in and the guys are starting to figure out their roles on the team. We learned a lot about ourselves in the two exhibition games. The team will continue to improve and we are looking forward to the start of the season against Bucknell."
Luca Bottoni
"We've made a lot of progress in the last 10 days. We have gotten a lot sharper on the ball and we are starting to gel more as a team"
"Navy was a good opponent for us (in the final exhibition game). It's a very high quality opponent that we need to know how to play against. They are in the same conference (Patriot League) as Bucknell so that was another good reason to play them."
Brian LoTempio
"Our fitness is getting sharper and our tactics on the ball are getting better. I think we are going to be ready for the game on Friday."
Posted August 26, 2014 at 6 p.m.
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Dinner and a Show
The start of preseason for the BU men's soccer team is marked by helping the freshmen move in. The midway point is marked by the Bearcat Open. The end of preseason, however, includes chefs juggling food and utensils over a hibachi.
On Sunday night, the BU men's soccer team held its final preseason training session followed by dinner at Fuji Sahn restaurant. The Japanese Steak House includes a hibachi, which head coach Paul Marco and his staff bring the team to every year after the preseason officially ends.
"I was asking my wife last night when it started," Marco said. "She thought it's been going as long as I've been here. It's been at least eight or 10 years. It's always a terrific night. It's a time when the guys get to meet our families, which is also nice."
"Every year Coach Marco takes us there with his family and it's always a great time with lots of laughs," sophomore goalkeeper Brian LoTempio said.
"It's always a good sign when we get to Fuji Sahn because that means the hard running in preseason is over," junior Luca Bottoni said. "We always get excited about going there."
As always, a highlight of the evening is which the chefs started tossing food off their utensils for the players to catch in their mouths.
"They weren't throwing shrimp as usual," Marco said. "They were throwing broccoli. I was very surprised about the eagerness of some of our guys to catch the vegetable because some guys don't like broccoli as much."
"The best part was watching one of our players have the fire (from the hibachi) scare him so much that he had to step back," LoTempio said.
According to LoTempio, about 90 percent of the players caught their food. As one of the goalkeepers on the team, he was asked if he and his fellow position player was successful.
"Yes," he said. "You don't have to worry about that."
Photo Op
For a look a photo from last night's dinner, click the link below to go to the Binghamton Athletics Instagram Site
Reading List
If you have yet to see it, check out the feature article the Press & Sun Bulletin wrote on captain Tommy Moon.
Coming Up Next….
Tomorrow, we'll have Coach Marco and the players discus how the team has progressed during preseason
Posted August 25, 2014 at 3:15 p.m.
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World Cup Fever
It's no secret that the Binghamton men's soccer team was closely watching the World Cup earlier this summer. Head coach Paul Marco was in Brazil working for the NSCAA and each of the players had their own rooting interests.
For seniors Pascal Trappe and Derrick Ladeairous and sophomore Robert Moewes, however, the final match between Germany and Argentina was personal.
Trappe and Moewes are from Germany and Ladeairous was born in Argentina. The three of them are teammates but the battle lines were drawn for that match.
"It was great to have Argentina go to the finals," Ladeairous said. "My whole family loved it and we were following it closely. We also talked a lot with our relatives back in Argentina during the (World Cup)."
Trappe and Moewes, however, had to watch the German team battle the U.S. on their way to the finals. That resulted in quite a bit of contact with their American teammates from Binghamton.
"All of the guys on the team were talking to me during the World Cup," Trappe said. "Playing against America (during group play) was fun with most of the guys being from the U.S."
Throughout the World Cup, Trappe and Moewes kept in contact with each other. Trappe watched from Berlin while Moewes stayed in his hometown of Dortmund.
"Pascal and I messaged and skyped a lot," Moewes said. "I also talked a lot to the (Binghamton) coaches."
After 90 minutes of the finals, Germany and Argentina were scoreless. All three Bearcat teammates were on the edge of their seats.
"Both teams looked great going into overtime," Ladeairous said. "The Germans had a great semifinal win (over Brazil) so I was nervous during the match."
"I was more stressed before the game," Trappe said. "I did not know how Argentina was going to do. But going into overtime and thinking it might go into penalty kicks was not easy either."
In the end, the Germans prevailed 1-0 in overtime. Trappe joined thousands of his fellow Germans celebrating in downtown Berlin following the game. The next morning, at our request, he forwarded a photo of the celebration downtown.
Our office got the photo the following morning at 8 am EST. That was 2 p.m. Berlin time. Coach Marco explained that Trappe had yet to go to bed. Moewes, however, did not stay up as late.
"I went downtown because that is where everyone was celebrating," Moewes said. "But I got to bed right after that."
Ladeairous, meanwhile, returned to preseason having yet to chat with Trappe and Moewes about the game. But the bond between the Bearcats was stronger than a World Cup result.
"At first I did not want to talk to them." he said smiling. "But we were able to set aside our differences because now we are teammates."
Posted at 9:30 p.m. on August 22, 2012.
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Press Clippings
Today's entry takes a look at the coverage from yesterday's Binghamton Fall Sports Media Day.
First off, here is the video from the men's soccer team, which includes head coach Paul Marco, Tommy Moon, Steve Celeste and Jamie Forbes
Next, the BU women's soccer team, which opens its season Friday at home against Temple, was also at the event yesterday. Click the link below to find out more about their season.
Three TV stations were at the event. Click the links below to access each one of their coverage.
From the America East
As most of you know, the preseason poll, which is voted on by the coaches, came out on Tuesday. With the Bearcats suffering a rash of injuries last year, the team understood why it was picked seventh. Now fully healthy, however, Binghamton has reason to be optimistic about exceeding this projection.
From the National Level
Check out the College Soccer News Top 30 Preseason Poll, which includes defending conference champion UMBC at No. 20. The Bearcats played the Retrievers to a 0-0 tie last year.
College Soccer News Preseason Poll
Earlier in the month, the NSCAA released their preseason poll. The Retrievers check in at No. 19.
Posted August 21, 2014
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Media Day
The BU men's soccer team took part in the Binghamton Athletic Department's Annual Media Day on Wednesday afternoon. They were joined by the women's soccer team and volleyball squad. All four local TV stations were in attendance.
Head Coach Paul Marco
"We've been training for a week this preseason. What an exciting time with the start of the season. I think if you ask the guys, we are a little ahead of where we were last year. I think the spirit of the team is terrific. The combativeness has been pretty good."
"I'll say this—the (America East) conference this year is pretty good. UMBC is a very good team. Last year against UMBC and Hartford, we tied them both in the regular season and lost in overtime at Hartford in the playoffs. I think that we are very competitive and we will be there again this year."
"Having Tommy Moon back is terrific for us. I say it's huge but he is a little guy. His fitness is outstanding. I truly can't believe how fit he is at this stage of the season."
Senior forward Steve Celeste
"We got a lot of young guys who will contribute this year and a lot of veteran guys this year who can really lead them. There is a lot of camaraderie within the team."
Senior back Jamie Forbes
"I think we are going to surprise people this year. In just one week of preseason we have made tremendous growth from last fall. Comparing this preseason to the last one we are miles ahead of where we were last year. Looking to improve in our (preseason) game against Navy this Friday and get ready for the regular season."
Senior midfielder Tommy Moon
"Words can't really describe how I feel being back after the injury last year. It was hard but I did a lot of hard recovery and to be back with the guys is amazing."
For photos from today's event, click the link below. Videos will be posted in the next day or two.
Cartoon Superhero?
During media day, Coach Marco was asked how he felt about being an underdog in the conference this year. The Bearcats were picked seventh in the America East Preseason Poll, and many media questions focused on that topic.
"I love Underdog. It's a great show," he quipped.
To find out what he is talking about, click the link below.
Posted August 20, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
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The Bearcat Open
For the just the second time in his tenure at Binghamton, head coach Paul Marco did not lead his coaches' team to a victory at the Bearcat Open. Instead, the quartet led by junior Bret Celeste emerged victorious.
"It's under review," Marco said before training Tuesday night. "We should have streaming video next year to make sure there are no violations."
About 12 balls went into the pond just 10 yards beyond the first tee…as well as one club (it was not the first time both a player's ball and club went into the water on the same swing). One of the team captains even hit his opening shot into the parking lot to the left of the first tee.
"I personally have never seen anyone let go of their club," Celeste said afterwards. "It's not a good idea to do that, especially on a water hole."
All kidding aside, the Bearcat Open this year continued to be a welcome break from the two-a-day preseason workouts as well as a chance to bond further as a team.
"A day like this is great for the guys," junior midfielder Luca Bottoni said. "We've been going pretty hard during the preseason and it's nice to come out and do something relaxing like this. The teams are nice because you might be around people you normally don't hang around with that much, especially if you are new."
"The first time I got here, I never really played golf before so it really helped me get to know people away from the field," senior forward Pascal Trappe said. "We get along pretty well on the field and since we've been training together, it makes playing a sport we don't do as much more fun."
Check out the teams from the Bearcat Open in the link below.
Say Cheese
Before the Bearcat Open took place, the men's soccer squad had its 2014 team photo and head shots taken. Check out all of the photos in the links below
Coming Back
There has been significant local media interest in graduate student Tommy Moon's return from his season-ending injury last year. On Tuesday night before training, a pair of TV reporters talked to him and Coach Marco about it.
"I am really excited to be back," he said. "Not just for me personally but for the team as well. We had a lot of injuries last year but we are healthy and have really grown a lot as a team since last season."
"Tommy has really grown into the leader of this team," Marco said. "He was always great with his own growth as a player but in the past 4-5 months, you can see how he has helped those around him get better. He is our captain this year and has been terrific during preseason."
Coming Up Next…
Moon, senior back Jamie Forbes, senior forward Steve Celeste and Coach Marco will be at the Binghamton Fall Sports Preseason Media Day, which kicks off at 3 p.m. tomorrow. We'll have complete coverage afterwards.
Posted at 8:50 p.m. on August 19, 2014
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First Test
Thoughts from today's scrimmage against Bryant at the Bearcats Sports Complex:
Head Coach Paul Marco
"I think in some areas we are definitely in a better place than we were last year at this time. The performance overall today was good. We showed good competitive spirit, good use of the ball and scored some terrific goals."
"I thought our attacking players took what we had been doing in the morning sessions and applied them to the game. I thought the backs did the same. We played two goalkeepers today and I thought they each did a very good job."
"We need to minimize a few more things. We probably can go through the film and come up with another list of things we need to improve upon."
"Today was an improvement from where we were a week ago and hopefully by the weekend and then next week we will be a little bit better. By the time we open up against Bucknell (August 29), I hope the guys are fresh and ready to go."
Senior forward Steve Celeste
"It was good to get out there today, especially with some of those new guys. I like what we saw out there. It's been a good first week and we want to keep moving forward."
"We have really good chemistry this year. We have really good camaraderie among the guys and I think the way we were moving the ball was much cleaner and much quicker than preseason last year. We are much more confident."
Sophomore goalkeeper Robert Moewes
"We are much more organized than last (preseason). We still have a lot to get better with but I thought that today was good."
Let the Banter Begin
At the conclusion of his talk to the team following the match against Bryant, head coach Paul Marco went over the schedule for Tuesday. When he got to the afternoon, his mood switched from praising his players about their performance on the field to what he views as impending doom on the links.
"And at 2 p.m.," he said. "All players will come out to get their butts kicked."
What else can that mean but the Bearcat Open, the nine-hole tournament the squad plays each preseason. With 11 wins in 12 years, Marco and his staff have reason to feel good.
"I just have that self-belief that we are going to win," he said. "I know that tomorrow might be our hardest challenge yet but I think we are all going to jump on (assistant coach) Nic Rossi's back and he is going to carry us to victory."
A few of the players, however, wanted to answer to that.
"To be honest, I think I can take them down myself," Celeste said. "I may need another golfer in my group in case my consistency slips but I will be taking down the coaches tomorrow."
"The coaches like to talk a lot of trash about the Bearcat Open," graduate student Tommy Moon said. "But I'll tell you what…Steve Celeste and I have been training a lot on the golf course this summer so we will give the coaches a run for their money."
"We are going to win," sophomore forward Logan Roberts said. "After two years of the coaches winning when I've been here, we are not going to let them win again."
Ice Bath for Baxter
Roberts and Jamie Forbes left the postgame team meeting to go up and administer the ALS Ice Bath to Baxter the Bearcat.
Forbes was one of 13 players who accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge last week. Roberts, however, escaped that fate and was actually the player to dump the bucket on Forbes.
"I am very lucky to escape the Ice Bucket Challenge twice," he said.
Instagram Link to Baxter's Ice Challenge
Posted at 4:10 p.m. on August 18, 2014
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Alumni Update: Trey Jasenski
Trey Jasenski, a 2013 graduate and captain of the BU men's soccer team, has signed a professional contract to play with the Western Massachusetts Pioneers. Three years after he was named a second-team all-conference back, he is officially continuing his soccer career.
"The team is in the ASL (American Soccer League)," he said. "It is under the league as the Western Mass Pioneers or Lusitano. I signed the contract with them earlier in the week."
Since graduating from Binghamton, Jasenski has traveled around the globe in the hopes of playing professionally. Needless to say, his signing is the fulfillment of years of training and perseverance.
"To finally be picked up by a team feels great," he said. "All the work and training is paying off and I am very thankful for everyone that has helped me along the way to get me to where I am right now."
Back on campus, the Bearcats were equally happy for Jasenski.
"I think it is a wonderful opportunity for Trey," head coach Paul Marco said. "This just shows you that if you are persistent and you pursue something with all of your heart and passion that dream can come true. We are thrilled for him."
"It's fantastic, current Bearcat midfielder Tommy Moon said. "Trey has worked very hard for this opportunity. He was a great teammate and very intense out on the field."
Moon vividly remembers training with Jasenski the spring after he graduated (2013). Despite not being required to be working out anymore, Jasenski still kept showing up at the Bearcats Sports Complex.
"He and I trained together every day during that spring," Moon said. "I was going into my fourth year and he was done playing in college. His intensity and drive to get better was always second to none."
"He was one of the most competitive guys I have ever had the privilege of working with," Marco added. "He was a warrior on the field and with him out there, you knew the competitive spirit of the team was going to be high."
Check out the website of Jasenki's new team as well as his BU bio in the links below:
Western Mass Pioneers
BU Bearcat Bio
Posted on August 15, 2014 at 3:45 p.m.
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Reaching Out
When it comes to taking part in charitable events, the BU men's soccer team's participation in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge on Tuesday was not an isolated event.
The squad won the BU Athletic Department's Citizenship Award in May, which was presented to the Bearcat program that stood out the most in terms of its community involvement. On Sunday, that tradition continues when the Bearcats take part in the Wendy's Walk for Kids at the Dick's Open (golf tournament) in nearby Endicott.
"These community events are really terrific for our guys to understand about giving back and making connections with people outside of the game," head coach Paul Marco said.
"It's a very high priority of the team to support these charities and be there for the community in general because the community comes out and supports us," graduate student Tommy Moon said.
This will be the second year in a row that the Bearcats take part in the Wendy's Walk for Kids. After a week of solid preseason training, getting off campus and being a part of such an event gives them a healthy perspective.
"Just because we are going through a tough week of training, it doesn't mean that we can miss out on helping others," sophomore back Charlie Novoth said. "It's good to get out there and also make ourselves known."
There is a dual purpose, however, of the Wendy's Walk. After a week of two-a-day's, Marco gave the team Sunday afternoon off to recover for the following week.
"We like to represent our school and our team," senior back Jamie Forbes said. "At the same time, walking around and getting the legs moving during the walk is a great way to recover."
"An event like the Wendy's walk is a great recovery session," Marco said. "It's a great bonding time for our team away from the field but at the same time, the guys aren't just sitting around."
Challenge Answered
On Tuesday afternoon, Marco called out BU head women's soccer coach Sarah McClellan to complete the ALS Ice Bucket. It didn't take her long to respond. Check out the video by clicking the link below.
No Summer Heat Here
Preseason is notorious for being a time of intense heat. Not so, however, this week in Binghamton. With temperatures holding in the high 60s and low 70s, that has been welcome news for those student-athletes from other parts of the world.
Forbes is from Canada and Novoth is from England. Count each of them among the grateful ones this week.
"I was out in California traveling this summer so it was nice and warm out there," Novoth said. "It's nice to come back here and have the weather be more like England."
"It's nice to be out on the field and not have to deal with that 90 degree heat," Forbes said. "I also like when it's cloudy because I get sunburned pretty easily."
Posted on August 14, 2014 at 2:40 p.m.
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Leftovers from the ALS Challenge
Mothers encourage their children to do many things. Having a bucket of ice water dumped on them is usually not one of them. In the case of senior forward Steve Celeste and his brother Bret, however, that's exactly what happened yesterday.
Lois Celeste has been actively involved with the parents of the Binghamton men's soccer team since her sons joined the program in 2011. Both Steve and head coach Paul Marco rave about the role she has played within the program.
"Our mom has always been there for us," Steve said. "Even when we played club soccer when we were younger, she was very involved. To see it transition to Binghamton has been great. That is always how she is."
"We have a very active parent group and Lois is certainly at the top of that list," Marco added.
It was in that spirit that Lois challenged the team on Monday to take part in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. The Bearcats had 24 hours to respond. After some juggling of the schedule, they showed up outside the Events Center the following day at 4 p.m., ready to take part.
When it was Steve's turn to address the gathered media, his first words caused laughter.
"I was challenged to take part in this by Lois Celeste…my mother….I love you mom."
Marco, Steve, 13 other players and the coaching staff then completed the challenge.
"My mother has called me out for a bunch of things but never something like that," Marco said later.
"We were glad to do it," Steve said. "But I have to say that my mother had just a little cup of ice water dumped on her when she completed the challenge. I told her we would show her what a real ice bucket challenge was like."
The first day of preseason was a chance for the newcomers to feel embraced. In addition to helping the freshmen move in, the Bearcats had all six of them help with dumping the ice water during the ALS Challenge.
"We like to create a good environment for them to come in," Steve said. "Even though it's all business out on the field, it's important to make them feel a part of the program."
As for how cold the water was, Steve had a definite answer.
"It was real cold," he said. "Logan Roberts was behind me (with the bucket) and he made me wait a little bit until I got wet. I had to anticipate it a little longer…and it was cold."
Social Media Sites
The Binghamton Athletic Department is on social media for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click the links below to go to the corresponding pages.
Posted August 13, 2014 at 2:15 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to firstname.lastname@example.com
Catching Up (Already)
Despite not having actual training sessions, Tuesday was a jam packed day for the Binghamton men's soccer team. So much so that this blog entry is being sent out first thing Wednesday morning.
It started at 8 a.m. when head coach Paul Marco went to the WNBF Station for an in-studio interview with morning host Roger Neel. Click the link below to listen to the entire interview.
After helping the six newcomers moving into the dorms later in the morning, the team gathered for what they thought was going to be a day of normal meetings. That was, until the ALS Bucket Challenge from Lois Celeste intervened, causing the team to break at 4 p.m. A pair of television stations came out to film the event, which included Coach Marco and senior forward Steve Celeste making statements to the gathered media. Marco said that the team would also make a donation to the ALS while Celeste acknowledged Lois as the person issuing the challenge to the team. 13 players and the coaching staff the took the required ice bucket bath.
Click the links below for the WBNG Video, a photo gallery of the event and more information about donating to the ALS.
Celeste and Marco were also involved with another ice challenge completion earlier in the day. That would be yours truly. With Celeste behind the camera and Marco squirting a pair of water bottles, I accepted the challenge from the Binghamton softball coaching staff, who I work with in the spring.
Overall, a pretty eventful first day, which we hope explains the delay in posting.
Posted August 13, 2014 at 9:15 a.m.
Feedback can be sent to email@example.com
Welcome everyone to the seventh season of the Binghamton Men's Soccer Daily Update! For the past six years, we have strived to capture the Bearcat program in ways that go beyond the box scores and press releases. Last year, over 5,000 fans read the Men's Soccer Daily Update.
This year, the Men's Soccer Daily Update will once again run Monday through Fridays during the season.
Tomorrow begins with head coach Paul Marco going on Roger Neel's WNBF Morning Show at 8:10 p.m. followed by the team moving on campus later in the day.
We look forward to covering the 2014 Bearcat season and hope that the Men's Soccer Daily Update will be a valuable source of information during the season for all of you!
Posted August 11, 2014 at 4:20 p.m.
Feedback can be sent to firstname.lastname@example.com
Top 10 Performances and Freshman Records in Each Event
Updated June 2014
June 18, 2014Tweet
Program Records
Register For Men's Basketball 2014 Summer Camps
Head coach Tommy Dempsey hosts 'Net Results Basketball Camp'
April 14, 2014Tweet
Net Results Basketball Camp Flyer
VESTAL, N.Y. - The Binghamton men's basketball program has announced its 2014 summer camp schedule. Head coach Tommy Dempsey and his staff will conduct two different camps during the months of July and August. Registration is available by clicking on the green button below or filling out the camp flyer and mailing it back to the Events Center. Check in for all camps will be held in the Events Center.
Dempsey's series of basketball camps coined, 'Net Results' offers area youths the chance to learn the game from his staff and players. The program has a proven record of individual improvement and enhancing one's knowledge of the game. Coach Dempsey has constructed a camp designed to develop players by using methods he and his staff employ at the Division I level. Both skill and educational sessions will be provided for all camps.
The first of Dempsey's two instructional forums is a day camp held from July 14-18. The camp is open to all boys ages 6-14 and will run from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. daily. The cost of the camp is $100 with registration beginning on the first day of camp (July 24) at 8:30 a.m. in the Events Center. During the five-day session, campers will be divided into leagues based on age and ability. On day one, players will be drafted onto teams and assigned a coach for the week. A game schedule will then be created for a week full of competition. Parents are welcome to attend the camp and spectate.
Dempsey will hold his 'Elite Prospect Camp' from August 16-17. The three-day overnight camp is open to boys grades 9th-12th and costs $150 for day campers and $250 for overnight campers. The 'Elite Prospect Camp' is for players who are looking to further their skills and play at the collegiate level. The camp is a perfect place to showcase one's skill and abilities as well as learn what it takes to be an intercollegiate student-athlete.
Event Center concession stands will be available throughout the camps. Lunch and subsequent meals for overnight campers will be provided at Binghamton University dining halls.
For more information regarding the camps please contact Binghamton Coordinator of Player Development Herb Courtney at firstname.lastname@example.com or 607-777-2118.
Boys Day Camp: July 14-18
Elite Prospect Camp: August 16 - 17
Keep up to date on Bearcats in the Pros
Links to former BU players playing professionally
April 3, 2014Tweet
Scott Diamond
Triple-A Bio/Stats
Louisville Bats website
MLB Bio/Stats
Cincinnati Reds website
Diamond inducted into Binghamton Athletics Hall of Fame (Nov. 2013)
Murphy Smith
Midland Rockhounds website (Double-A)
ESPN Albany radio interview with Murphy Smith (April 2014)
Smith shines in Double-A all-star game (June 2013)
Mike Augliera
Portland Sea Dogs website (Double-A)
Augliera helps Salem win title (Sept. 2013)
Press & Sun-Bulletin feature on Augliera (April 22, 2014)
Lee Sosa
Vermont website (Single-A Short Season)
Sosa has great start to 2013 season for Vermont (July 2013)
Bill Bereszniewicz
Ogden Raptors website (Rookie)
2013-14 Media Center
Schedules, Scores, Notes, Play-by-Play, Video...
March 9, 2014Tweet
(exhibition game)
|@ Brown
|@ Cornell
|@ St. Peter's
|@ Mt. St. Mary's
|@ Syracuse
|@ Monmouth
|@ Buffalo
|@ St. Joseph's
|@ Maine
(America East game)
(America East game)
(America East game)
|@Stony Brook
(America East game)
|@ Albany
(America East game)
(America East game)
|@ Vermont
(America East game)
(America East game)
|@ UMass Lowell
(America East game)
(America East game)
|@ Maine
(America East game)
|@ New Hampshire
(America East game)
(America East game)
(America East game)
|@ Hartford
(America East game)
(America East game)
|America East Championship
(hosted by Albany)
|vs. No. 3 Hartford
Media Links
Past Media Guides
- 2012-13 Media Guide
- 2011-12 Media Guide
- 2010-11 Media Guide
- 2009-10 Media Guide
- 2008-09 Media Guide
- 2007-08 Media Guide
- 2006-07 Media Guide
- 2005-06 Media Guide
Past Media Centers
- 2012-13 Media Center
- 2011-12 Media Center
- 2010-11 Media Center
- 2009-10 Media Center
- 2008-09 Media Center
- 2007-08 Media Center
- 2006-07 Media Center
- 2005-06 Media Center
- 2004-05 Media Center
Media Notes
- Click on bullets for each game to get media notes, game stories, box scores, post-game quotes and audio
- Click on the opponent names to be redirected to their respective athletic web sites
- Media notes will be posted no later than the morning of game day
- Game stories, box scores, post-game quotes and audio will be posted as soon as possible following games
Follow Coach Dempsey on Twitter (@tadempsey4)
December 27, 2013Tweet
Contact: John Hartrick (email@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y.—Fans can follow Binghamton head men's basketball coach Tommy Dempsey on Twitter throughout the 2013-14 year.
Dempsey, a 38-year-old Scranton, Pa. native, was hired in May of 2012. He previously served as head coach for seven years at Rider University (N.J.). Dempsey guided the Broncs to national postseason tournaments in three of the last five years and his teams averaged 17 wins per season during his tenure.
The Bearcats open their 2013-14 season at home against Loyola (Md.) on November 8. The team will be introduced to fans at Late Night Madness on October 11.
Map of Binghamton Cross Country Course
Men's 8K course and women's 5K course covers much of the BU Nature Preserve
July 25, 2013Tweet
Binghamton will be the host school for this year's America East Cross Country Championship Meet, which will be held Nov. 2. In addition, the pre-conference meet will also be held at Binghamton Sept. 7.
Both the men's and women's races will begin on campus and cover much of the Binghamton Nature Preserve.
For a PDF version of the course, click on the PDF link above.
Blogging our way through the 2012 season (As of August 13)
August 13, 2012Tweet
Going the Distance
During his four years at Binghamton, Ryan Walter was always one of the fittest players on the men's soccer team. Each summer, he won the preseason fitness run by a substantial margin. So it was little surprise to any of his teammates when he decided to run the Hudson-Mohawk Road Runners Club Winter Marathon in March.
"I have always wanted to run a marathon just to experience it," he said. "It seemed to be a great a challenge, especially for me since I am not a big runner to start with. Other soccer alum before me like Kyle Kucharski and Chris Terry also ran a marathon after their senior season. Really, it was just a challenge that I wanted to test myself with.
Walter started training for the February 19 event, which was held at the University of Albany, in December. His farthest training run was 20 miles but most of his runs were about 6-10 miles.
With his soccer career having ended, Walter continued to train on his own for the marathon while the Bearcats trained for the spring season. The rest of the team had little doubt that he would do well come race day.
"Ryan is one of the fittest guys I have ever had the pleasure of playing with," Marts Reid-Warden said. "Every fitness test, he always set the bar high for the rest of the players so I wasn't surprised at all when I heard he was running a marathon."
"He pushes himself and excels at everything he does," Trey Jasenski said. "So I knew he would do well."
"Every year I was here, he always won the (two-mile) Cooper Test," Jake Keegan said. "So I figured he was running about 13 Coopers."
The night before the race, Walter stayed with Jasenski and his family outside out Albany.
"Trey and his family supported me the whole weekend of the race," Walter said. "They were very gracious and allowed me to stay with them the weekend of the race. They made sure I was well fed and rested. I am very grateful for their hospitality and support."
Walter clocked a time of 3:12.06 in his marathon debut. Jasenski, meanwhile, figured he would be done in about three hours and had planned to meet him at the finish line. That did not, however, go exactly as planned.
"I dropped him off and then we tried to figure out where the finish line was three hours later," Jasenski said. "We were holding up signs, running around looking for him and finally found him and he looked…..dead."
:I was very happy with my time especially it being my first time and a sporadic training schedule," Walter said. "I was very relieved to cross line. Overall it was a long process and the effort paid off."
Walter's hard work at Binghamton paid off in several ways. In addition to being a two-year team captain and two-time, second team all-conference selection, he graduated magna cum laude and landed a job at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Looking back, Walter has found memories of his years with the Binghamton men's soccer program.
"BU soccer was a fantastic experience," he said, "Truthfully, the program has become like family for me. I greatly value all the friends and relationships that have made my time at BU something that I will always look back on with a smile. Coach Marco's dedication to the team is outstanding. The amount of time and effort he puts into watching film and scouting teams is tremendous. His ability to prepare the team for an opponent is something that I have not had in any other coach."
As for the current Bearcats, Walter is a teammate who helped them in many ways.
"He always worked for everyone," Jasenski said. "He always pushed himself and set the standard for everyone else around him."
"He is one of those guys who is always competitive and always wants to win," Keegan said. "Everyone can learn from his competitive attitude on the field."
Posted August 13, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. Feedback can be sent to email@example.com
Blogging our way through the 2012 season (As of August 13)
August 13, 2012Tweet
Going the Distance
During his four years at Binghamton, Ryan Walter was always one of the fittest players on the men's soccer team. Each summer, he won the preseason fitness run by a substantial margin. So it was little surprise to any of his teammates when he decided to run the Hudson-Mohawk Road Runners Club Winter Marathon in March.
"I have always wanted to run a marathon just to experience it," he said. "It seemed to be a great a challenge, especially for me since I am not a big runner to start with. Other soccer alum before me like Kyle Kucharski and Chris Terry also ran a marathon after their senior season. Really, it was just a challenge that I wanted to test myself with.
Walter started training for the February 19 event, which was held at the University of Albany, in December. His farthest training run was 20 miles but most of his runs were about 6-10 miles.
With his soccer career having ended, Walter continued to train on his own for the marathon while the Bearcats trained for the spring season. The rest of the team had little doubt that he would do well come race day.
"Ryan is one of the fittest guys I have ever had the pleasure of playing with," Marts Reid-Warden said. "Every fitness test, he always set the bar high for the rest of the players so I wasn't surprised at all when I heard he was running a marathon."
"He pushes himself and excels at everything he does," Trey Jasenski said. "So I knew he would do well."
"Every year I was here, he always won the (two-mile) Cooper Test," Jake Keegan said. "So I figured he was running about 13 Coopers."
The night before the race, Walter stayed with Jasenski and his family outside out Albany.
"Trey and his family supported me the whole weekend of the race," Walter said. "They were very gracious and allowed me to stay with them the weekend of the race. They made sure I was well fed and rested. I am very grateful for their hospitality and support."
Walter clocked a time of 3:12.06 in his marathon debut. Jasenski, meanwhile, figured he would be done in about three hours and had planned to meet him at the finish line. That did not, however, go exactly as planned.
"I dropped him off and then we tried to figure out where the finish line was three hours later," Jasenski said. "We were holding up signs, running around looking for him and finally found him and he looked…..dead."
:I was very happy with my time especially it being my first time and a sporadic training schedule," Walter said. "I was very relieved to cross line. Overall it was a long process and the effort paid off."
Walter's hard work at Binghamton paid off in several ways. In addition to being a two-year team captain and two-time, second team all-conference selection, he graduated magna cum laude and landed a job at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Looking back, Walter has found memories of his years with the Binghamton men's soccer program.
"BU soccer was a fantastic experience," he said, "Truthfully, the program has become like family for me. I greatly value all the friends and relationships that have made my time at BU something that I will always look back on with a smile. Coach Marco's dedication to the team is outstanding. The amount of time and effort he puts into watching film and scouting teams is tremendous. His ability to prepare the team for an opponent is something that I have not had in any other coach."
As for the current Bearcats, Walter is a teammate who helped them in many ways.
"He always worked for everyone," Jasenski said. "He always pushed himself and set the standard for everyone else around him."
"He is one of those guys who is always competitive and always wants to win," Keegan said. "Everyone can learn from his competitive attitude on the field."
Posted August 13, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. Feedback can be sent to email@example.com
Softball Announces 2014 Fall Schedule
Bearcats open at BAGSAI Tournament Sept. 13
September 2, 2014Tweet
Contact: David O'Brian (email@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. – The Binghamton softball team has announced its fall schedule, which begins at the BAGSAI Tournament Sept. 13. The Bearcats face Colgate at 10 a.m. and Cornell at noon.
Binghamton has three home dates at the Bearcats Sports Complex Softball Facility. It hosts Fordham on Sept. 14 and has home tournament on Sept. 21 and Oct. 4.
The lone road game this fall is at Syracuse on Sept. 20.
Saturday, Sept. 13 @ BAGSAI Tournament
BU vs. Colgate (10 a.m.)
BU vs. Cornell (noon)
Sunday, Sept. 14 vs. FORDHAM (1 p.m.)
Saturday, Sept. 20 @ Syracuse (2 p.m.)
Sunday, Sept. 21 HOME TOURNAMENT
BU vs. OCC (11 a.m.)
OCC vs. Herkimer (1:30 p.m.)
BU vs. Herkimer (4 p.m.)
Saturday, Oct. 4 HOME TOURNAMENT
BU vs. Le Moyne (10 a.m.)
Rochester vs. Le Moyne (12:30 p.m.)
BU vs. Rochester (3 p.m.)
Saturday, Oct. 18 ALUMNI GAME 2 p.m.
Games in CAPS are home
Welcome Back Barbeque kicks off 2014-15 year
President Stenger, AD Elliott address student-athletes in Events Center
September 1, 2014Tweet
Contact: John Hartrick (firstname.lastname@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton University athletics welcomed back its 450+ student-athletes with a barbeque Monday afternoon at the Events Center.
The event officially kicked off the 2014-15 school year for BU athletics. President Harvey Stenger and Director of Athletics Patrick Elliott addressed the students, who then enjoyed a buffet before heading out to watch the men's soccer team host Marist in the team's home opener.
"Don't waste a second," Elliott told the group. "I challenge you to see what you can do to make a difference every second. I appreciate all that you embody in the community with your service, your conduct, academic performance and in the athletics arena. We want excellence but always with honor. One hundred percent responsibility ... zero percent excuses. We're going to get better together. Go Bearcats!"
Welcome Back Barbeque kicks off 2014-15 year
President Stenger, AD Elliott address student-athletes in Events Center
September 1, 2014Tweet
Contact: John Hartrick (firstname.lastname@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton University athletics welcomed back its 450+ student-athletes with a barbeque Monday afternoon at the Events Center. The event officially kicked off the 2014-15 school year for BU athletics. President Harvey Stenger and Director of Athletics Patrick Elliott addressed the students, who then enjoyed a buffet before heading out to watch the men's soccer team host Marist in the team's home opener.
"Don't waste a second," Elliott told the group. "I challenge you to see what you can do to make a difference every second. I appreciate all that you embody in the community with your service, your conduct, academic performance and in the athletics arena. We want excellence but always with honor. One hundred percent responsibility ... zero percent excuses. We're going to get better together. Go Bearcats!"
Men's soccer blanked by Marist 1-0
Red Foxes net game-winner in 41st minute
September 1, 2014Tweet
Contact: David O'Brian (email@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. – Mario Vukadinovic scored with just under five minutes left in the first half, leading unbeaten Marist (2-0-0) to a 1-0 win over Binghamton (1-1-0) in a non-conference men's soccer game on Monday afternoon at the Bearcats Sports Complex. The loss, which marked the Bearcats' home opener, came against a Red Fox squad that has yet to allow a goal this season.
Vukadinovic, who now has a goal and an assist in the first two games, got behind the Bearcat defense and took a pass from M.J. Stellwag. He then tapped the ball into a wide open net from close range.
After being outshot 5-2 in the opening 45 minutes, Binghamton regroup and outshot Marist 7-0 in the second half. Despite several close attempts, however, the Bearcats were unable to get the equalizer.
"Give Marist credit," head coach Paul Marco said. "They got a goal in the first half and were able to hold on. I thought our guys woke up in the second half and played better. But we are disappointed in our effort at home."
The match was held shortly after the athletic department's Welcome Back BBQ for the student-athletes at the adjacent Events Center. As a result, a crowd of 1,225 showed up at the Bearcats Sports Complex.
"We had a terrific crowd tonight," Marco said. "We really appreciated their support and want to thank them for coming out. We will be better next time."
Binghamton heads to the Duquesne Tournament this coming weekend. The Bearcats face the host Dukes Friday at 6 p.m.
10-year Anniversary Spotlight: Caitlin O'Shaughnessy
Former co-captain and senior midfielder reflects on the 2004 NCAA
August 31, 2014Tweet
Flashback: The NCAA season of 2004
On the 10-year anniversary of the 2004 team's historic NCAA season, the communications office caught up with more than a dozen former players and coaches. They each shared their special memories of that championship run.
Spotlight on ...
Who: Caitlin O'Shaughnessy
Then: Senior midfielder and co-captain
Now: Nurse practitioner in pain management at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City
What do you recall about the team heading into that 2004 season?
Heading into the 2004 season I remember thinking we had a chance to have our best year yet. The players we had were all pretty solid and had great skills. We were all also in pretty good shape because we knew Coach Leightman was strict on the conditioning tests in preseason. It was a lot less painful if you came into it in shape. Tatiana and I stayed up in Binghamton the summer before our last year to train and condition together. I think the freshman and sophomore girls really pushed the upper class-man to be better. We were all fighting for our starting
positions because every player was strong. From the very beginning our practices were competitive and intense. We had fun off the field, but on the field it was serious and all about winning. We had a solid defense and players on the field who could score goals.
Was there any moment or part of the season where you felt like winning the America East title was a real possibility?
After we beat Boston University, I thought that we could beat anyone in our conference. After that game, I remember thinking we could win the AE title.
What do you remember about hosting the tournament ... the days preceding your two games, the fans, celebration?
I remember being very, very nervous the days preceding the tournament. As a captain, center midfielder and upper class-man I felt a lot of pressure to stay calm and help lead the team on the field. We had decided to play the play off games on our practice field which actually made me a bit more confident since we were so used to training there. It all seemed to go by so fast. I remember we were trying to treat the games like any other game during the season. We had already accomplished so much but to win the tournament had been our ultimate goal. I remember the many fans on the sidelines with posters and body paint. I remember seeing all of our family and friends being there and looking so nervous as well. I believe they wanted the win for us as much as we did. After all they had been there with us the whole season, coming to home/away games, throwing pasta parties and tailgates for us many times. It was an amazing feeling to see all of the support for women's soccer. We had never had so many fans show up for a game.
What are your memories of the NCAA game at Penn State?
After we won the America East title, I remember us all gathering in the conference room to watch the picks on ESPN. It was so amazing to be talked about on TV. Then we heard we were picked to play Penn State. We knew it was going to be an extremely difficult game but again we treated it like any other game and prepared for it the way we always did. After we lost, I remember being sad because for me it was all over (it was my senior yr) but also I was so proud of the team for making it this far. We had made history for Binghamton University Women's Soccer. It was bittersweet.
What is your lasting impression of that championship, your teammates, your college career in general and the sport of soccer and how it's helped shape your life?
The lasting impression of that championship mostly had to do with my teammates. I have never played with a group of girls who fought so hard for one another. We were like a family and we were in battle. We had each others' backs. Some of my best friends to this day were on that team with me, not to mention my actual sister. It was an amazing experience to get to share this with my sister, Kerry and my best friends. The 2004 year showed me that if you work hard enough for something you can accomplish it. The great things in life don't come
easy and it was so rewarding to make the NCAA tournament. Not many people can say they were a part of a team that did that. I will remember and be proud of this accomplishment forever.
What have you been doing since graduation?
Since I left campus, I moved to New York City and went back to school for my master's degree in Adult Nurse Practitioner. I currently work at Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC as a Nurse Practitioner in Pain Management. I continue to play soccer in an adult co-ed soccer league weekly.
Flashback: 10-year anniversary of Women's Soccer NCAA season
Bearcats won 14 games, captured America East regular season and tournament titles in 2004
August 31, 2014Tweet
Player Spotlight: Caitlin O'Shaughnessy
Contact: John Hartrick (email@example.com)
Ten years ago the women's soccer team did something nobody expected them to do. After failing to qualify for the America East tournament in each of the two previous seasons and being relegated to 8th (out of 10) in the Coaches' Preseason Poll, the Bearcats produced a magical season in 2004. Still a very young Division I program under the direction of seventh-year coach Jeff Leightman '95, BU turned the tables on its conference foes and produced numerous achievements:
- Program's first America East regular season and tournament titles
- Program's first NCAA Division I tournament appearance
- 14-6-1 record (6-3 in conference play)
- Five all-conference selections and Coach of the Year
- Ranked as high as No. 4 in the Northeast
The seeds for the title run were sown in the previous two years, when talented Bearcats teams won a combined 18 games but were stifled by America East foes. The 2002 team strung together a seven-game unbeaten streak and the 2003 team won five of its first seven games before ultimately missing a postseason berth by one goal. Binghamton's inability to turn tight games into conference wins prompted the league's coaches to put BU eighth in the 2004 poll, one spot lower than the team's 2003 finish.
The Bearcats surged through a 6-1-1 record in their non-conference slate, but they had done that before. The real test awaited in October.
Litmus test was conference play
After a 3-2 loss at New Hampshire to open America East play, BU posted a strong 1-0 win at Maine and followed with a 2-0 triumph at UMBC. But the Bearcats split their next four league games and were sitting with a 4-3 record when defending champion and perennial national power Boston University came to Vestal for the second-to-last game of the regular season. Binghamton had lost 4-0 to Boston the previous fall and another defeat would put the team's postseason hopes in jeopardy. Down 1-0 with under eight minutes left in regulation, however, the Bearcats rallied to tie and force overtime and then junior midfielder Lauren Massey won it less than two minutes into overtime. Two days later, BU scored twice in the final 14 minutes to beat Northeastern 2-0 and grab a share of the regular season title and with it, the host role for the final two rounds of the championship.
Six days later, Binghamton and Northeastern met again in the tournament semifinals, this time played on BU's practice field after continuous rain had rendered the West Gym game field unplayable. The players endured temperatures in the low 40s, high winds and occasional hail, but the Bearcats' offense remained stoked and BU scored early in each half and controlled play en route to a 3-0 win.
Championship game
In the finals against second-seeded Maine, Binghamton struck with 9:30 remaining in the first half. Off a corner kick, freshman forward Tricia Reed outleaped the Maine goalie and sent a header toward the unoccupied net, where a Black Bears defender reached out and stopped the shot with her hand. Junior defender Meghan Taylor sent the ensuing penalty kick into the top left corner of the net for a 1-0 BU lead. Taylor, whose defensive presence carried the team the entire season, would later be named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
In the second half, sophomore midfielder Kelly Burnham scored an insurance goal in the 78th minute, knocking in a header from close range after senior linemate Caitlin O'Shaughnessy had sent her own header across the goalmouth. The goal was Burnham's second of the tournament.
Sophomore Kristie Bowers made six saves for Binghamton, recording her third straight shutout and seventh of the season.
As the clock reached zero, a jubilant celebration ensued, with a boisterous crowd of nearly 400 pouring onto the field to join the team.
Two days later the team gathered to watch the unveiling of the 64-team NCAA bracket. In its first-ever Division I tournament appearance, BU drew second-ranked Penn State and its historic season ended with a 6-1 loss. Two "own goals" and a penalty kick call aided the hosts' offensive cause but BU did provide its own adrenalin rush when senior striker Tatiana Mathelier tied the game in the ninth minute. Down 1-0, Mathelier brought down a pass off the head of freshman linemate Kim Povill and beat the keeper from 12 yards out for her team-high ninth goal of the season. The Nittany Lions, however, were too strong and added two more goals before half and three in the second period for the final margin.
The team's legacy was already sealed after the America East title, however. With its season on the line, BU played its final four games (2 regular season, 2 tournament) in front of the West Gym faithful and the Bearcats outscored their foes 9-1 with shutouts in their final three games. One year after the men's team captured their first conference title in front of the home fans, the 2004 women's team did the same, and both the accomplishment and celebration were second-to-none.
"We haven't produced the results we've wanted in conference games, but we're eager to change that this season," Leightman said in August. "We've got our work cut out for us, but hopefully it will make it that much sweeter when we do get there."
Sweet indeed.
Women's soccer explodes for 5-0 win over Iona
O'Neill nets pair, Acor and Rice also score as BU gets first win
August 30, 2014Tweet
Contact: John Hartrick (email@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. - Sophomore midfielder Katie O'Neill scored twice and Binghamton women's soccer (1-3) erupted for five goals in a 5-0 win over visiting Iona (2-2) Sunday afternoon from the Bearcats Sports Complex.
After being limited to one combined goal over the team's first three games, BU exploded for its highest goal output in 10 years.
"This was huge for us today," head coach Sarah McClellan said. "I thought the team played well - not great by any means - but we really needed the win and our players worked hard and made it happen. I thought the team was more ready and alert on the field today. It's taken a while for us to gel and today we started to see some of those things come together. This was a really big step for us."
Freshman forward Jocelyn Acor created the first goal in the 23rd minute. Linemate Jacque Rice won a ball on the right side and sent Acor down the wing. The speedy freshman dribbled inside the box toward the endline and sent a hard cross to the front of the goal where a Gaels defender mistakenly knocked it into the goal on a clear attempt.
Just 6:36 later, O'Neill scored her first collegiate goal on a point-blank header off a corner kick. Junior midfielder Rebecca Raber sent a perfect corner to the far post, where O'Neill finished up a late run to the post and had an easy header into the back netting for a 2-0 lead.
O'Neill added her second goal in the 40th minute by driving to the net. Senior midfielder Emily Nuss sent a 30-yard free kick around the wall and toward the left corner. Iona keeper Lauren Ferris dove to make the initial stop but O'Neill was there to tap in the rebound from three yards away.
"Katie (O'Neill) is capable of being a dominant player every single day," McClellan said. "She really "amped" it up this week and dominated in training and you can expect that if a player dominates in training ... that's the type of preparation you need to be to do it game time and she certainly did that today."
Up 3-0 at half, BU tacked on two more goals in a 3:40 span midway through the second period to finish the scoring.
Acor got her first collegiate goal in the 72nd minute. Rice sent a cross into the middle from the right side, where it was misplayed by a Gaels defender. Acor tracked down the loose ball on the left side of the box and sent a 12-yard left-footed shot into the top right corner.
Rice benefited from her hard work and nose for the goal just 3:40 later. Freshman midfielder Valerie McNamara sent a ball in from the right and after a failed clear by Iona, Rice spun and knocked in a loose ball for her first collegiate tally.
Binghamton owned an 18-7 shots advantage.
Senior Gaby Gold (1 save in first half) and freshman Katie Hatziyianis (2 saves in second half) split the shutout.
The Bearcats next host Siena at 7 p.m. on Friday.
Binghamton improved to 4-1-1 all-time against Iona… the five goals were the most BU has scored since the 2004 team toppled St. Peter's 6-0 on the road… the five-goal margin of victory is the most in the women's eight-year history at the Bearcats Sports Complex (previous was 4-0 win over Lehigh in 2012).
Volleyball Drops A Pair At Loyola Marymount Invitational
Bearcats (0-3) fall to host Lions and LIU Brooklyn
August 30, 2014Tweet
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LOS ANGELES - The Binghamton volleyball program dropped a pair of matches at the Concourse Hotel at LAX Classic, Saturday from Gersten Pavilion. The Bearcats (0-3) fell in straight sets to host Loyola Marymount and LIU Brooklyn.
"It was good to see a lot players contributing," head coach Glenn Kiriyama said. "We had a tough time controlling the attack of LMU and LIU Brooklyn. But I thought we did a good job with our serve, receive and ball movement. Overall I thought we played okay, but we still have a lot to work on. We fought hard in both matches however, we committed too many errors to really get anything going."
Binghamton lost its second match of the tournament to the host Lions 25-14, 25-16, 25-19 as Kiriyama used 11 of his 14-player roster. Sophomore Allison Hovie led the Bearcats with 11 kills while junior Megan Burgess added six. Senior Amanda Dettmann dished out a team-high 14 assists. Freshman Sarah Ngo played the third set for Dettmann and handed out 11 assists leading the Bearcats to a match-best .290 hitting percentage.
Binghamton struggled to stop the LMU offense as the Lions committed just six attack errors en route to a .400 hitting clip. The Bearcats hit a tournament-high .188 with 32 kills, however eight service errors hampered the BU offense.
The Bearcats completed tournament play against LIU Brooklyn, falling to the Blackbirds 25-23, 25-16, 25-17. Allison Hovie led the Binghamton attack with eight kills while senior Alexa Zbytniewski added seven kills and a team-high nine digs. Dettmann recorded a tournament-high 24 assists adding seven digs and three blocks.
Binghamton had its best match of the tournament against LIU Brooklyn as the Bearcats out blocked the Blackbirds eight to three. Four different BU players recorded three blocks during the match. However, Binghamton struggled with their serve committing seven service errors.
Binghamton returns to the East Coast next weekend when the Bearcats head to Akron, Ohio for the Zips Invitational. Binghamton will face Austin Peay, the host Zips, Bryant and Drake while in Northeast Ohio.
Volleyball Falls In Straight Sets To UCLA
Bearcats (0-1) drop season opener to four-time national champion Bruins (1-0)
August 29, 2014Tweet
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LOS ANGELES – The Binghamton volleyball team dropped its season opener in straight sets to UCLA, Friday night at the Concourse Hotel at LAX Classic from Gersten Pavilion. The Bearcats (0-1), who faced UCLA for the first time, fell 25-10, 25-17, 25-9 to the four-time national champion Bruins. Binghamton returns to the court Saturday afternoon for a pair of matches against host Loyola Marymount and LIU Brooklyn.
"We hung with them for a little bit in the second set," head coach Glenn Kiriyama said. "However, UCLA is a very good team and we committed too many errors which you can't do against a team of their caliber. I thought we did a good blocking some of their hitters and we had a few good service runs. We will learn from this experience tonight and get ready for a pair of matches tomorrow."
Binghamton was led by senior outside hitter Kristin Hovie, who registered a team-high six kills. However, the Bearcats committed as many as errors as terminations leading to .000 hitting percentage. Hovie also recorded a team-high six digs. Senior setter Amanda Dettmann dished out 15 assists for the Bearcats.
In the first set, UCLA jumped out to an 11-5 lead but a quick 4-0 Binghamton spurt pulled the Bearcats within two. Terminations by Hovie and sophomore Bianca Anderson ignited the charge. From there it was all UCLA however, as the Bruins went on an 11-0 run to ease to a 25-10 first-set victory.
Binghamton was most competitive in the second set taking an early lead then battling with the Pac-12 members throughout the middle of the frame. A Hovie kill leveled the stanza at eight, but UCLA answered with an 8-1 run forcing a Binghamton timeout. Dettmann connected on a service ace and kill while a Hovie termination pulled BU within four, 20-16. However, that would be as close as the Bearcats would get dropping the second set 25-17.
UCLA completed the sweep with a 25-9 win in the third set. The Bruins sprinted out to a 7-1 advantage before a kill by Dettmann delayed the damage. Hovie connected on a pair of kills during the set, but it wasn't nearly enough as UCLA closed the frame on a 5-0 run to start the season 1-0.
The Bearcats battled at the net with UCLA as each team recorded six blocks. However, the Bruins were extremely efficient hitters ending the night with a .363 attack percentage. Binghamton misfired on eight service attempts while UCLA registered seven service aces.
Freshman Alexis LaGoy registered her first collegiate kill against the Bruins, ending her night with three terminations. Anderson chipped in three blocks while junior Megan Burgess added four kills.
Binghamton continues play in Los Angeles on Saturday at 4 p.m. (ET) against host Loyola Marymount.
Volleyball Opens Season At Loyola Marymount Invitational
Bearcats face four-time national champion UCLA in opener tonight at 7 p.m.
August 29, 2014Tweet
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Live Video | Live Stats | Gametracker
2014 Season Preview | 2014 Schedule
MATCH #1: Binghamton vs. UCLA (Aug. 29 – 7 p.m. ET)
MATCH #2: Binghamton at Loyola Marymount (Aug. 30 – 4 p.m. ET)
MATCH #3: Binghamton vs. LIU Brooklyn (Aug. 30 – 8 p.m. ET)
MATCH SITE: Gersten Pavilion (Los Angeles, Calif.)
SERIES RECORDS: Binghamton vs. UCLA (first-ever meeting)
SERIES RECORD: Binghamton vs. Loyola Marymount (first-ever meeting)
SERIES RECORD: Binghamton vs. LIU Brooklyn (1-3)
VESTAL, N.Y. – The Binghamton volleyball program begins the 2014 season on the other side of the country Friday as the Bearcats traveled over 2,700 miles to Los Angeles to compete in the Concourse Hotel at LAX Classic hosted by Loyola Marymount. Binghamton kicks-off the season tonight against four-time national champion UCLA at 7 p.m. eastern from Gersten Pavilion. The Bearcats face the host Lions Saturday at 4 p.m. and conclude tournament play at 8 p.m. against LIU Brooklyn.
The Bearcats (0-0) head to Los Angeles with one of the youngest teams in program history as head coach Glenn Kiriyama's roster sports 10 underclassmen. Binghamton returns five starters but will have to replace key pieces in the middle and at the libero position.
Leading the Bearcats will be four-year starter and captain Amanda Dettmann. The 2012 America East Co-Setter of the Year will be the engine that drives the team in 2014. Dettmann averaged 9.26 assists per set in 2013 which ranked fifth in the conference and currently sits fourth on BU's all-time assists list. The Milwaukee, Wis. native is equally important to the defense averaging over 2.00 digs per set each season with the Bearcats.
Receiving the majority of Dettmann's sets will be sisters Kristin and Allison Hovie. The duo combined to average over 5.00 kills per set in 2013 as Allison earned America East All-Rookie honors. Kristin Hovie has registered over 800 career and seeks to become the eighth player in program history to eclipse 1,000 kills.
The Bearcats, who lost three-year starter and captain Grace Vickers and four-year libero Xiomara Ortiz to graduation, were selected to finish fifth in the America East Preseason poll. Binghamton finished the 2013 season with a 7-7 conference record, going 9-19 overall.
The Bruins (0-0) and the Bearcats will meet for the first time on Friday as Binghamton will face its first-ever Pac-12 opponent. UCLA, who has won four national championships most recently in 2011, went 15-15 last year with a 6-14 conference record. The Bruins were selected eighth in the Pac-12 preseason coaches' poll and received votes in the Preseason AVCA poll.
UCLA is led by senior outside hitter Karsta Lowe, a 2014 Preseason All-Pac-12 Team selection, who averaged 4.31 kills per set last season which ranked 26th in the nation. A Pac-12 first-team selection in 2013, the 6-4 Karsta also earned AVCA Honorable Mention All-America honors. Senior Megan Moenoa returns as the top setter for UCLA. She averaged 9.21 assists per set which ranked ninth among Pac-12 setters last year.
Binghamton will face West Coast Conference (WCC) member and host Loyola Marymount (LMU) for the first time in program history at 4 p.m. Saturday. LMU was selected to finish fifth in the WCC Preseason poll after completing the 2013 season with an 8-10 conference record.
LMU returns nine letterwinners and three starters from a 2013 team which went 14-14 and finished sixth in the WCC. Senior middle blocker Litara Keil is the top returner after averaging 3.50 kills per set to go with 0.76 blocks per set and 16 aces. Junior setter Hannah Tedrow posted 9.56 assists per set a season ago with 1.32 digs per set and 19 aces. Tom Black is in his fifth season as LMU's head coach and has a record of 61-58. In nine years as a head coach, he has a 176-87 mark.
The Bearcats and Blackbirds will meet for the fourth time on Saturday evening with LIU Brooklyn taking two of the three matchups since 2000. LIU Brooklyn reached the 2013 NCAA Tournament after posting a 23-8 overall record and a perfect 14-0 mark in the Northeast Conference, eventually falling to perennial powerhouse Penn State. The Blackbirds have won 32 consecutive Northeast Conference matches, the longest active winning streak in conference play at the Division I level.
LIU Brooklyn returns 11 players and nearly every starter from last year's talented squad. Senior Annika Foit, the 2012 and 2013 NEC Player of the Year, and senior Vera Djuric (three-time NEC Setter of the Year) highlight the list of returners. Foit managed a team-best 384 kills at a rate of 4.17 per set last year, while Djuric dished out 1,060 assists (10.39 per set) while running the offense…also returning this season is two-time NEC Libero of the Year, junior Adriana Viñas Joy (4.38 digs per set). LIU Brooklyn is led by seventh-year head coach, and three-time NEC Coach of the Year, Kyle Robinson
Binghamton returns to the East Coast next weekend when the Bearcats head to Akron, Ohio for the Zips Invitational. Binghamton will face Austin Peay, the host Zips, Bryant and Drake while in Northeast Ohio.
Women's soccer edged by Manhattan 2-1
Church scores opening goal but Jaspers counter with two straight tallies
August 29, 2014Tweet
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VESTAL, N.Y. - Junior forward Stephanie Church scored just 2:16 into the contest but visiting Manhattan (2-1) notched the game's final two goals and edged Binghamton women's soccer 2-1 Friday night at the Bearcats Sports Complex.
The Bearcats (0-3) got the quick start with Church's first goal of the season but the Jaspers tied it in the ninth minute and then scored the game-winner 4:30 into the second half.
Binghamton held a 14-9 shots advantage but couldn't break through for the equalizer.
"The team put in spurts of really good efforts but we just didn't have every piece there tonight," head coach Sarah McClellan said. "We had some chances and outshot our opponent, which is something you need to do in order to win. But we weren't connecting on final passes and shots. I think we're getting closer but our organization and communication are still a work in progress. As long as we can learn from this game and tighten up a few things, we'll be ready for Iona on Sunday."
After back-to-back shutout losses to start the season, BU produced its first goal of 2014 when junior forward Katherine Corcoran chipped a ball over the Manhattan defense to Church, who was breaking in on the right side. With the keeper coming out to cut down the angle, Church brought down the pass and slotted a shot into the far corner from 10 yards out.
Manhattan tied the game 6:18 later when leading scorer Aislinn McIvenny broke past the BU back line and received a perfect through ball from senior Kaelyn Angelo on the right. McIvenny dribbled closer before eluding keeper Gaby Gold with a shot into the far side netting from 12 yards away.
Church nearly had a tiebreaking goal midway through the first half. With 20:35 left in the opening period, freshman back Hannah Shankman tracked down a ball on the left wing, cut back and delivered a cross that bounced inside the box. Church beat her defender to the ball and had a point-blank header off the bounce, but Manhattan keeper Kristen Skonieczny made the save.
Four minutes later, Gold made a nice save to keep the game even. She came out and dove to her left to smother a shot attempt from 16 yards away.
The Bearcats had two more good chances in the first half, including a volley from sophomore midfielder Katie O'Neill that was saved, and a dangerous cross from freshman forward Jocelyn Acor, that the keeper punched away.
Tied 1-1 at half, the teams barely had a sweat going in the second half when the Jaspers scored a quirky goal that stood up as the winner. Senior back Shannon Garrity crossed a ball from the right side that appeared to skim off the head of a BU defender. The re-routed ball sailed past second-half keeper Katie Hatziyianis and banked in off the upper body of junior forward Sam Washuk, who was driving toward the net alongside another Bearcats defender.
Binghamton faces another MAAC member on Sunday when Iona arrives in town for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
Binghamton played the game without half of its starting back line as senior Connie Gormley and sophomore Allison Mack were nursing injuries.
Men's soccer beats Bucknell 2-1 in season opener
Bottoni and Novoth each net first career goal
August 29, 2014Tweet
LEWISBURG, Pa.—Junior midfielder Luca Bottoni and sophomore back Charlie Novoth each scored in the second half, leading Binghamton (1-0-0) to a 2-1 win at Bucknell (0-1-0) on Friday night at Emmitt Field. The victory came against a Bison squad that won 13 games last year and returned its top two leading scorers.
Bottoni's goal was the first of his career and came in the 62nd minute. He took a pass from sophomore forward Logan Roberts and fired it into the net from 15 yards out.
Novoth, meanwhile, converted a free kick from just outside the penalty box in the 80th minute. It too was his first collegiate goal.
Sophomore goalkeeper Robert Moewes made his first career start and was credited with five saves. The only Bucknell goal was scored by Justin Galiani with just one second left in regulation.
The Bison outshot the Bearcats 16-7 for the game, including a 9-1 margin in the opening 45 minutes. The Bearcats, however, made some halftime adjustments and were able to turn the tide of the match.
"We defended quite well the whole game," head coach Paul Marco said. "But in the second half of the game, we showed a lot more urgency going forward with the ball. I thought Robert was terrific tonight in goal and while we would love to have gotten the shutout, this was a good step forward for our team.
Binghamton hosts Marist in its home opener on Monday at 5 p.m.
NOTES: Including Moewes, the Bearcats had four newcomers in their starting lineup against Bucknell. He was joined by freshmen forwards Isaiah Barrett and Ben Ovetsky as well as freshman back Christian Dam … Binghamton's last season-opening win also came at Bucknell in 2011. The final score was 3-1 and featured a goal by current midfielder Tommy Moon, who is now the team captain.
BU Men's Soccer Team Announces Home Game Promotional Schedule
Bearcat scarf also available for all men's and women's soccer season ticket holders
August 27, 2014Tweet
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VESTAL, N.Y. – The Binghamton men's soccer team has announced its home game promotional schedule for the 2014 season.
On Monday, the athletic department will hold its Welcome Back BBQ for all student-athletes at 4 p.m. at the Events Center. Immediately following that event is the Bearcats' 5 p.m. home opener against Marist.
Binghamton's game against Army on Sept. 10 will feature a tribute to all military personnel. Other home games will honor BU faculty & staff (Sept. 23 vs. Syracuse) and the university's international students (Oct. 22 vs. Columbia). Details for all three of those games are still in the works.
The Bearcats will continue their support of the Red Card Cancer program at a pair of games this season (Sept. 13 vs. Cornell and Nov. 1 vs. Stony Brook). The match against Stony Brook will also serve as Senior Night.
On Oct. 4, the Bearcats' America East opener against Hartford will serve as youth and team poster night. A Youth Day Clinic will also follow Binghamton's Oct. 11 game against New Hampshire.
The game against New Hampshire has been moved to a 1 p.m. kickoff to accommodate Family Weekend at Binghamton University. In addition, it will also be a SUBWAY "Pack the House" game.
This year's Homecoming game takes place on Oct. 18 against Vermont. It marks the fourth time since 2008 the Catamounts are the Homecoming Opponent. All three previous meetings have been decided by a single goal.
"We are thrilled with the home promotional schedule," head coach Paul Marco said. "Overall, I think our department has done a very good job with it. We are looking forward to putting a good product on the field with an entertaining, fast style of play. We hope our home fans will really appreciate it."
In addition to the single-game promotions this year, Binghamton has created a season ticket package for both the men's and women's soccer teams. A $20.00 season ticket comes with a Bearcat scarf to be used as an admission ticket for all men's and women's regular-season home games.
"What a terrific idea to have the scarf this year," Marco said. "Our marketing department has come up with a great plan to boost the season ticket sales. It is a staple in the soccer world. Every great club in every country has a scarf. I am very happy we have unveiled our season ticket and scarf at the same time."
Click the link below for more information.
2014 Men's and Women's Soccer Season Tickets
Sept. 1 vs. Marist (Welcome Back BBQ to precede game)
Sept. 10 vs. Army (Military Personnel Night)
Sept. 13 vs. Cornell (High School Night and Red Card Awareness)
Sept. 23 vs. Syracuse (Faculty Staff Night)
Oct. 4 vs. Hartford (Youth & Poster Night)
Oct. 11 vs. New Hampshire (Family Weekend Game, Youth Clinic)
Oct. 18 vs. Vermont (Homecoming)
Oct. 22 vs. Columbia (International Students Night)
Nov. 1 vs. Stony Brook (Red Card Cancer Awareness, Senior Night)
Volleyball Veterans Embrace Youth Movement
Bearcats seek return to conference tournament armed with 10 underclassmen
August 27, 2014Tweet
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2014 Schedule | 2014 Preseason Poll
VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton head volleyball coach Glenn Kiriyama embarks on his 16th season with the Bearcats in 2014 and may face one of his most challenging coaching assignments of his tenure. The three-time America East Coach of the Year is charged with guiding a roster that sports 10 underclassmen back to the postseason. Following an up-and-down 2013, Binghamton failed to qualify for the America East Tournament for just the second time in 10 years after capturing its third America East title in 2012.
"We are working hard as a unit, which is always refreshing," Kiriyama said. "But we have a long way to go and right now, we are focused on getting better each day we step on the court. I believe this team will be in the mix at the end of the season…you just have to get into the conference tournament and then anything can happen."
A trio of seniors will be vital to Binghamton's success in 2014. Captains Amanda Dettmann and Alexa Zbytniewski as well as Kristin Hovie will be heavily relied upon to assist in the development and maturation of the underclassmen. Kiriyama's core has combined to play in more than 230 matches and each had key roles in the 2012 championship.
"Our seniors are assuming the majority of the leadership roles," Kiriyama continued. "They are seasoned veterans now and have been influential in helping our younger players. They will have to step up in their new roles both on and off the court if we are going to be successful."
For the Bearcats, who were picked fifth in the America East preseason poll, the season will greatly hinge upon the play of Dettmann, who begins her fourth year as Binghamton's setter and quarterback. The Milwaukee, Wis. native currently sits fourth on Binghamton's all-time assists lists with 3,198 and has a chance to finish her career among the program's best setters.
"Amanda is the calming influence on the team, both on and off the court," Kiriyama noted. "The team really leans on her for guidance and leadership."
The dynamic talent, who has captained the team since her freshman season, is also crucial to Binghamton's defense and service game. The 2012 America East Co-Setter of the Year has compiled over 700 digs, 100 total blocks and 90 service aces in her career.
"Amanda's decision-making has improved immensely since last season," Kiriyama continued. "Knowing when and where to distribute the ball has really helped the learning curve of some of the players. She is much smarter setter than she was a year ago and really is the glue that keeps the team together."
Learning from Dettmann will be freshman Sarah Ngo, who will step into the backup role for Kiriyama. Ngo won a Tennessee state title at Ravenwood High School in 2010 before transferring to Centennial High where she was a three-time all-district selection.
"Sarah has great hands and moves the ball well within the offense," Kiriyama said. "She does a good job at keeping the hitters engaged and has absorbed the offense well."
The most experienced position on the floor for Binghamton is the outside hitters. Each of the Kiriyama's hitters has seen time on the court led by four-year starter in Hovie. Joining her on the outside is younger sister Allison Hovie and sophomore Kelly Leach. The Bearcats' lone junior, Megan Burgess, will see most of her action at the right side position.
"The outsides will see the majority of the sets where in years past we have set the middle a bit more," Kiriyama explained. "I believe it is our most experienced position so we will expect them to perform at a higher rate earlier in the season."
Kristin Hovie, who has amassed over 800 kills in her three years at Binghamton, will look to bounce back from a 2013 season that was plagued by injuries. Alongside her will be Allison Hovie, who was a 2013 America East All-Rookie selection. The duo combined for over five kills per set and will see the bulk of the sets from Dettmann.
"Kristin and Allison are very comfortable with each other on the court," Kiriyama said. "We have high expectations for them while they are both still developing. We will need them to contribute in a variety of ways, not just hitting, if we are going to be successful. Kristin is an excellent blocker while Allison's back row play will be equally as important."
Rounding out the arsenal of hitters for Dettmann are Burgess and Leach. Burgess finished her first full season as a starter averaging over 2.00 kills per set while Leach saw action in 24 matches. Burgess, a native of St. Petersburg, Fla., has a powerful arm and has grown into a more accurate hitter. Leach is a versatile athlete that will see time in both the front and back rows.
"I think Megan has grown the most since last season," Kiriyama stated. "She has become a much better blocker and is more accurate with her attacks. If she can limit her errors I believe she can be one of the top hitters in the league. Kelly has developed well and could see significant court time either on the outside or in the back row."
The middle of Binghamton's front row will feature a pair of sophomores and freshmen after the loss of two-time first-team all-conference selection Grace Vickers. Tasked to fill the shoes of one of the most productive players in program history will be Bianca Anderson, Shannon Kirkpatrick, Kristella Morina and Alexis LaGoy. Morina and LaGoy are entering their first seasons with the Bearcats and could be called upon to produce early.
"We are very young at the middle position," Kiriyama noted. "It will be a point of emphasis for us throughout the season as we work to prepare them for the rigors of conference play. We need the young players to buy into what we are teaching and then execute what they learned on the court when they get their chance."
Each of the Bearcats' four middles stands nearly six feet tall or higher which will provide support in the blocking game. Anderson has become a more consistent hitter and will be a physical presence while Kirkpatrick's 24 starts in 2014 will be important. Morina stands 6-foot-3 and should give Kiriyama a solid blocking option. LaGoy led her Baldwinsville team to two New York state titles and was a two-time first-team all-state selection.
"Our middles will have to be effective blockers, even before their offense," Kiriyama stated. "However, we expect them to contribute immediately and protect their area of the court. More than anything we need them to be aggressive at the net and make things difficult for opposing offenses."
Kiriyama will have to replace a four-year starting libero and Binghamton's all-time digs leader in the graduated Xiomara Ortiz. Easing the transition is first-year captain Alexa Zbytniewski, who has settled into a defensive specialist role. Zbytniewski is a gifted athlete that can slide into multiple roles for the Bearcats.
"Alexa is our vocal leader on the court," Kiriyama said. "She possesses a lot of good insight and I believe the team looks up to her. She has grown into a true leader and a dynamic player. We look forward to her being our co-captain."
A pair of sophomores will battle for the libero position after receiving a year of guidance from Ortiz. Bailey Walker and Kasey Muchnicki each saw court time in 2013 and are competing for the off-colored jersey, but it has been Walker who has emerged as the frontrunner. Also providing depth on the back line will be freshman Mirei Kato.
"Bailey is an extremely hard worker and has a desire to become the libero," Kiriyama said. "She has good quickness and speed which equals to her covering a lot of ground. Kasey works very hard as well and her passing has improved greatly. She will see court time this season in the back row no matter what position."
The Bearcats kick-off their season against four-time national champion UCLA (Aug. 29) in what Kiriyama believes is one of the most difficult tournaments in the program's history. Following 16 non-conference matches away from home Binghamton will begin its navigation through the America East schedule at Albany on Sept. 26. The Bearcats then head to defending champion New Hampshire on Oct. 3 before concluding a 19-game road trip at UMass Lowell on Oct. 5.
"We emphasized more this preseason how important the early games are," Kiriyama said. "It starts out tough, with probably one of the toughest tournaments we've played in since I've been at BU. Every game is going to be difficult, but we want to learn from each match as we prepare for conference play."
A unique schedule has Binghamton playing all six home matches consecutively commencing on Homecoming Weekend against Hartford on Oct 11. The Bearcats then host Stony Brook (Oct. 11), UMBC (Oct. 19), Albany (Oct. 19), UMass Lowell (Oct. 31) and New Hampshire (Nov. 11). Binghamton hits the road for a short three-game trip for important matches against Stony Brook (Nov. 7), Hartford (Nov. 9) and UMBC (Nov. 14) to conclude the season.
"Conference play is always tightly contested," Kiriyama noted. "Every game is important as we learned last year, so we'll use each match as a learning experience. Each year only a few games separate one from four or five. Our goal is to get to the postseason and then see what happens."
Shavon Greaves hired as track & field assistant coach
Former Penn State All-American was on the Wagner coaching staff for two years
August 25, 2014Tweet
2010 Flotrack Interview with Shavon Greaves at NCAA Indoor Meet
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VESTAL, N.Y. – The Binghamton track & field program has announced the hiring of Shavon Greaves as its new assistant coach. She arrives from Wagner College, where she was an assistant coach the past two seasons.
While at Wagner, she coached the sprinters, hurdlers and middle distance runners. Under her watch, the Seahawks produced the NEC champion in the 500 this past year as well as four All-NEC honorees in the events she oversaw. In addition, a pair of her athletes qualified for the ECAC Championships.
A 2011 graduate of Penn State, Greaves was a nine-time All-American and 14-time Big Ten Conference champion. Her top performance was a third-place finish in the 200 at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Track Championships. Greaves was named the Big Ten Athlete of the Year (across all sports) three times (2009, 2010 and 2011) and was the conference's Rookie of the Year in 2008.
"I am excited to add Shavon Greaves to the Binghamton Track and Field coaching staff," head coach Mike Thompson said. "She was an outstanding athlete at Penn State and a successful coach at Wagner College, and she brings a wealth of new ideas and a winning attitude that will greatly benefit the Binghamton Track and Field program."
Binghamton was the runner up this past year at the America East Indoor Championships on both the men's and women's side. At the ensuing conference outdoor meet, the Bearcat women placed third while the men finished fourth.
Binghamton University – Shavon Greaves named assistant track & field coach.
Kicking Off the 2014-15 Year
BU Athletic Director Patrick Elliott goes on WNBF to talk about the start of the year
August 25, 2014Tweet
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With the 2014-15 athletic year starting up at Binghamton, Director of Athletics Patrick Elliott was a guest on Roger Neel's WNBF Morning Show this past Friday. He touched on a variety of topics from the excitement of the year starting to the new staff hires as well as the continued academic excellence of BU's student-athletes.
The Bearcat women's soccer team kicked off their season at home against Temple on Friday. The men's soccer team launches its 2014 campaign on Friday at Bucknell while the volleyball team heads out to California this weekend for its season-opening tournament at Loyola-Marymount.
Women's soccer blanked 2-0 at Lehigh
Mountain Hawks score once in each half
August 23, 2014Tweet
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Correll Grace had a goal and an assist, leading host Lehigh (1-0-0) to a 2-0 win over Binghamton (0-2-0) in a non-conference women's soccer game on Sunday afternoon at the Ulrich Sports Complex. The game was the second in three days for the Bearcats.
Grace broke open a scoreless tie with just 57 seconds remaining in the first half. She headed in a cross from Paige Elliott, who was stationed to the left of the goal. Madi Morgan was also credited with an assist.
With the Bearcats pressing for the equalizer in the 76th minute, the Mountain Hawks were able to turn a counterattack into an insurance goal. Grace finished the run by crossing the ball to Darby Wiegand, who headed the ball into the net.
Binghamton fired four shots in the final 13 minutes of regulation but was unable to break the shutout.
"I thought we came out stronger than we did against Temple on Friday," head coach Sarah McClellan said. "But it was unfortunate that we allowed that goal late in the first half. We are still missing some players (due to injury) but we got to finish off our chances better. Lehigh finished off two great chances against us."
In a wide open game, the Mountain Hawks finished with a 23-14 shot advantage.
Senior goalkeeper Gaby Gold made five saves in the first half while freshman goalkeeper Katie Hatziyianis recorded a pair of stops in the second half.
Binghamton returns home on Friday for a 5 p.m. game against Manhattan.
Women's soccer drops season opener to Temple 2-0
Visiting Owls tally both goals in 1:16 span midway through first half
August 22, 2014Tweet
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VESTAL, N.Y. - Visiting Temple struck for two goals in a 1:16 span midway through the first half and pinned a 2-0 loss on Binghamton women's soccer in the season opener for both teams Friday night at the Bearcats Sports Complex.
The Owls opened the scoring in the 17th minute after a free kick just inside the midfield line. The long ball was headed away by a BU defender but retrieved by Temple midfielder Shannon Senour on the right side of the box. Senour spun and dribbled to the endline before crossing to the six yard box just beyond the reach of BU keeper Gaby Gold. Junior midfielder Gina Ditaranto got just enough of her upper right leg on the ball to guide it into the net from the doorstep.
Then just over a minute later, another long ball into the box spelled doom for the Bearcats. Gold charged and collected the ball momentarily, but collided with a Temple forward and the ball spilled loose. A failed clear then rolled directly to the feet of Owls forward Kelly Farrell, who set up and drilled an 18-yard shot into the vacated goal.
The two-goal flurry came shortly after Binghamton had a good chance to strike for the opening goal. Sophomore midfielder Katie O'Neill fed a beautiful through ball to junior forward Samantha Crane down the right side. Crane slowed up, cut back to the middle and slotted a pass across to junior midfielder Rebecca Raber, whose right-footed shot was headed toward the lower left corner before being saved by Temple keeper Shauni Kerkhoff.
After Raber's chance, Gold charged hard to smother a through ball on the left side of the box.
After struggling to keep pace for the remainder of the half, BU stepped up its intensity early in the second half and had two good scoring chances off corner kicks. The Bearcats registered six shots in the second half and held a 9-8 shots margin for the game. Binghamton also earned four corner kicks in the period but couldn't find the back of the net. Junior center back Connie Gormley just missed on a header off a Raber corner kick midway through the period and an O'Neill header off another corner kick carried over the bar in the 87th minute.
"We played a tough opponent tonight," head coach Sarah McClellan said of the Owls, members of the American Athletic Conference, which owns a power ranking of No. 7 among all Division I conferences. "Temple got us on our heels in the first half but I was proud of how we responded in the second half. We had the ball a little more and outshot them. That's something we can definitely build on."
Freshman keeper Katie Hatziyianis made her collegiate debut in the second half and made four saves in 45 minutes of work. With 7:54 left in the contest, Hatziyianis made a flashy save, diving to her right to knock away a direct kick.
Binghamton travels to Bethlehem, Pa. on Sunday for an away contest at Lehigh. The game against the Patriot League member Mountain Hawks begins at 12:30 p.m. at Ulrich Sports Complex.
The loss was just the fourth in 15 home openers for Binghamton since 2000 (10-4-1)... The Bearcats are 1-2 all-time against Temple, winning 3-1 in 2009 and losing by the same 2-0 score last year.
Balanced women's soccer poised for breakout year
SEASON PREVIEW: Seven starters back from team that reached America East quarters
August 22, 2014Tweet
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VESTAL, N.Y. - With depth in back, skilled players up the middle and an influx of newcomers ready to contribute right away, it's easy to see why Binghamton women's soccer coach Sarah McClellan is eager to start the 2014 season. McClellan returns seven starters and 19 letterwinners from last fall's team that pushed its way into the postseason. Now with an incoming class of eight freshmen fighting for time, the seventh-year mentor has plenty of options up and down the roster and isn't shy about expressing her optimism.
"We're really excited about this group … this is going to be a special team for us – we figured that out in the first couple days of preseason," McClellan said. "The new girls are playing like they've been here for a long time and our returners came in ready to play. The sky is the limit for this group."
Ten non-conference and eight America East encounters await the Bearcats, who open with four of five at home, beginning with the team's debut against Temple on August 22 at the Bearcats Sports Complex.
Tri-captains Gold, Gormley and Raber form key nucleus up middle
Senior center back Connie Gormley, an all-conference selection and four-year starter, anchors the back line as she's done since her arrival on campus. Behind her, senior keeper Gaby Gold is back after posting a 1.00 goals against average in 2013. Relentless midfielder Rebecca Raber is coming off a sophomore season that saw her earn first team all-conference honors. Raber will control the middle of the field and direct the team's attack. The trio will play a pivotal role in the team's success, both from an operational standpoint on the field but equally important, a leadership role with the underclassmen.
Gold is the team's returning starter and her presence between the pipes will settle the Bearcats. She played in 13 games last season, splitting time with Carrie Martin, who has now graduated. McClellan will likely keep her in-game tandem rotation as freshman Katie Hatziyianis has quickly emerged as a viable shot stopper.
Hatziyianis was a first team all-state goalie who led her Massapequa High team to the state championship last fall. She is a fluid athlete who can make big saves and much like former Bearcat standout and current assistant Kristie Bowers '07, Hatziyianis may be the four-year stalwart keeper McClellan has been coveting.
Redshirt freshman Haley Downin has good size and strength and is emerging as she comes off a redshirt 2013 season. Downin's development gives the Bearcats three keepers who are game-ready and will push each other in training every day.
Despite injuries, senior Alyssa Gutierrez and walk-on freshman Lili Ruland are high quality contributors.
Returning to join Gormley in back is sophomore Allison Mack, who will start on the left side of BU's 4-3-3 alignment. Mack started 14 games as a freshman, both at outside back and center midfield, and she's a capable defender who has added more confidence and composure on the ball.
Junior Alyssa Vallar, who played in 12 games last year, is competing for a starting spot in the middle. She reads the game well, came into camp with good foot speed and can also play on the outside.
Sophomore Kasey Brida has made big strides since her freshman season and is in the mix for significant time on the outside. She played in nine games last fall but has impressed the coaching staff this August with increased precision, communication and consistency.
Another sophomore who has shown significant improvement is Kelly Corrado, the team's biggest back at 5-foot-11. Corrado had a strong spring before playing at a high level in the WPSL this summer. She has earned ample minutes at center and outside back.
A trio of freshmen – Emma Maslin, Katherine Millet and Hannah Shankman – will push for time in back. Maslin is working through pre-season injuries but offers a big upside at center back. A local recruit with five years of experience under McClellan's coaching, Maslin is very fit with sound technique. Millet has a can-do attitude and is rapidly building confidence. Shankman is a versatile player who can attack from the back. Another first-year player, Valerie McNamara, a four-year ODP member from the Buffalo area, can play in back or at midfield.
All-Rookie selection O'Neill helps solidify central midfield
The Bearcats have always produced strong central midfielders and this year's unit is no exception. It begins with Raber, a dynamic player who can score from any range and is a fierce competitor. With the graduation of veteran leader Emma Kurth, sophomore Katie O'Neill moves up to midfield from the back line, where she earned America East All-Rookie honors after starting 17 games as a freshman. O'Neill is dangerous on the attack with either foot, has speed and a competitive fire.
Senior Emily Nuss is back in a starting role for her final collegiate campaign. She can play the attacking or holding center positions and her experience will be vital to the unit.
Sophomore Aly Falinski offers a high work rate and good service with either foot. Her role will expand as she continues to return to form from an injury.
Multiple attacking weapons could boost production
Many times great play and time of possession don't yield goals in college soccer. The Bearcats fell victim to this reality in 2013 when they were held to one goal or less in 13 (of 18) games. The margin is ever so slight, especially in conference play, and two seems to be the magic number. Binghamton was 5-0 when striking twice in a game and 1-7 when surrendering two or more goals.
But in 2014, McClellan is most excited about her attacking unit.
"We have a lot of dangerous options," she said. "We can play 6-7 forwards during a game and not have a drop-off."
Chief among those weapons is junior Stephani Church, the team's leading returning scorer. Church netted five goals in 2013, including four game-winners. She came into camp in great shape and with speed and a comfort level with the system, Church could jump that goal-scoring number up higher.
Junior Katherine Corcoran is one of the most underrated players on the team. She is dangerous with the ball on either foot and is a very technical player who will draw attention and create havoc for defenders. She tallied seven points in 17 starts last season and McClellan expects that output to grow.
Another third-year player with speed and ball skills is Samantha Crane, who played in all 18 games last season with eight starts.
Two freshmen who will turn some heads up top are Jocelyn Acor and Patricia Hanley. Acor is a speedster who scored 35 goals for Hornell High last year. Aside from her finishing skills, Acor can dribble and apply heavy pressure tracking on defense. Hanley has impressed the coaches in preseason with her attacking runs and work rate. Both players are expected to receive quality minutes in the forward rotation, as should redshirt freshman Jacque Rice, a physical player who has an unpredictable attack.
Sophomore Leighann Bennett, who played in nine games last year, and junior Jacqueline Ehrenreich, round out the unit. Sophomore Michele Galvin, who netted three goals in 2013, will sit out the season with an injury.
McClellan high on team's attitude, communication
Talent can take a team only so far and McClellan believes in addition to the collective skillset on the field, her 2014 edition has a great attitude and a heightened sense of responsibility for training and performance.
"We're working together very well," she said. "The players have shown a willingness to embrace our challenge of communication and they understand that process and preparation are imperative to achieving results."
Not lost on any player or coach in the program is the fact that this year is the 10-year anniversary of the historic run to the NCAA tournament made by the 2004 Bearcats, who will be honored at Homecoming on October 19. Duplicating that team's sweep of the America East regular season and tournament titles – the first in the program's Division I tenure – would be special.
"We've set very high goals for this year, which takes a lot of courage," McClellan said. "This team is capable of making a splash in conference play and extending it into a long season. But for now we'll focus on improving each game and build positives. The America East is very even and wide open and you have to be ready every single time you take the field. The players are invested in taking this season to the next level and we're excited to get under way."
Armstrong joins Volleyball Program For Kiriyama's 16th Season
Former Alabama St. assistant helped lead the Hornets to first-ever NCAA appearance
August 21, 2014Tweet
Contact: Terrence Lollie (firstname.lastname@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. - The Binghamton volleyball program and head coach Glenn Kiriyama announced the hiring of Valerie Armstrong as assistant coach. Armstrong replaces Rashinda Reed who moved on to Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) member Northeastern.
Armstrong arrives from Alabama State University where she was an assistant coach during the 2013 season. She will immediately step into the top assistant role for Kiriyama, who is entering his 16th season at Binghamton.
"We are thrilled to have Valerie, with her vast experience as a player and coach at various levels, join our staff," Kiriyama said. "She will be a great addition to the Binghamton volleyball program. Our squad will benefit greatly from her enthusiasm and passion for the sport."
While with Alabama St., Armstrong was a member of the 2013 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) tournament champions helping guide the Hornets to their first NCAA appearance in school history. Alabama St. set a program record for wins (25) and named five players to the SWAC all-conference teams.
Prior to her time at Alabama St. Armstrong spent four years as the head coach of Vernon College, a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) institution. While in North Texas, Armstrong helped guide 16 players to all-conference recognition including four academic all-americans. In 2012, Armstrong navigated Vernon to a 32-7 record en route to a conference championship. Vernon ended one its best seasons in program history ranked 15th in the final NJCAA poll.
Before coaching at Vernon, Armstrong was an assistant coach at Colby Community College (Colby, Kan.) and College of the Southwest (Hobbs, N.M.) gaining valuable experience.
Armstrong, a native of Big Springs, Nebraska, received her Master's degree from Concordia University (Irvine, Calif.) in coaching and athletics administration in 2012. She earned her bachelor's degree in agriculture business from Oklahoma Panhandle State University (2007) and her associate's degree from Eastern Wyoming College (2005).
While a member of the Eastern Wyoming program, Armstrong was named an academic all-american. She was also named Female Athlete of the Year honors while at Oklahoma Panhandle St.
TRANSACTION – Binghamton University – Valerie Armstrong named assistant volleyball coach
Volleyball Selected Fifth In America East Preseason Poll
Bearcats begin season on Aug. 29 against four-time national champion UCLA
August 21, 2014Tweet
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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The America East preseason volleyball poll was released Wednesday afternoon and Binghamton was predicted to finish fifth with 17 points. The voting was conducted by the seven conference head coaches, each of which was not allowed to vote for their own team.
UMBC, who fell to New Hampshire in the 2013 America East championship match, was voted first with 33 points. The Wildcats were a close second earning 30 points in the poll, while each program received three first place votes. Stony Brook rounded out the top three with 28 points and the final first place vote.
Completing the poll was Albany with 21 points, Binghamton, followed by Hartford (12) and second-year member UMass Lowell (6). Former associate member Providence is no longer competing in the America East Conference.
The top four teams in the conference standings at the end of the regular season will qualify for the 2014 America East Championship, which will take place at the home of the top seed on Nov. 21 and 22 or 22 and 23. The tournament champion will receive an automatic bid to the 2014 NCAA Championship. Binghamton and Albany have combined for the nine of the past 10 America East Tournament titles.
Following its third America East title in program history, the Bearcats failed to advance to the conference tournament for just the second time in the past 10 years. Binghamton started the 2014 season slow, but finished strong coming just two games short of the postseason, going 7-7 during America East play. The Bearcats finished the season with a 9-19 overall record.
Binghamton returns four starters to its 2014 unit, but will have to navigate a tough schedule after losing all-conference performers Grace Vickers and Xiomara Ortiz. The Bearcats will be led by four-year starting setter, Amanda Dettmann. The senior captain from Milwaukee, Wis. was the 2012 Co-Setter of the Year and a second-team all-conference selection.
The Bearcats begin their season on Aug. 29 in Los Angeles, Calif. at the Loyola Marymount Tournament against Pac-12 member and four-time national champion UCLA.
BU holds Fall Preseason Media Day
Men's and women's soccer squads and volleyball team gear up for season
August 20, 2014Tweet
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VESTAL, N.Y.—With the preseason winding down, the Binghamton men's and women's soccer teams and volleyball squad held its annual preseason media day on Wednesday afternoon. Head coaches Sarah McClellan (women's soccer), Paul Marco (men's soccer) and Glenn Kiriyama (volleyball) were joined by selected players at the event.
The women's soccer team opens its season Friday night at 7 p.m. against Temple at the Bearcats Sports Complex. The volleyball team is at four-time NCAA champion UCLA next Friday while the men's soccer team kicks off its 2004 campaign at Bucknell that same night.
IWLCA Recognizes Women's Lacrosse For Academic Achievement
Program earns status for third time in last four years; Foley and Fisher named to Academic Honor Roll
August 20, 2014Tweet
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VESTAL, N.Y. - The Binghamton women's lacrosse team was honored by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) as a 2014 Academic Squad. It marks the third time in the past four seasons that the Bearcats have achieved the feat. Senior Alex Fisher and graduate Erica Foley were also honored by the IWLCA being named to the 2014 Academic Honor Roll.
"I couldn't be more proud of our team for their academic achievements this past spring," head coach Stephanie Allen said. "Our team took a hard look at what we wanted to accomplish last season and our first priority was making significant strides in the classroom. We were able to set a high academic benchmark for the program while improving competitively on the field."
Fisher and Foley were two of 223 Division I student-athletes honored by the IWLCA for achieving a GPA of 3.50 or higher. The duo constructed two of the seven players from the America East to be named to the list. Binghamton was one of 84 schools that the IWLCA recognized as Division I Academic Squads for attaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The Bearcats were just one of three teams from the America East to be honored by the IWLCA. Joining Binghamton on the list was Stony Brook and Vermont.
"Alex and Erica not only led our team on the field, but were able to exemplify what model student-athletes they are with their achievements in the classroom," Allen noted. "As a staff, we are extremely proud of their accomplishments and the high standard they have set for the women's lacrosse program."
Binghamton placed more than two-thirds of its players on the America East Honor Roll for achieving a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The Bearcats were led by Fisher and Foley, who were each named to the America East All-Academic Team.
Fisher, an integrated neuro molecular track major, wrapped up the semester with a 3.50 cumulative GPA. The Brockport, N.Y. native started all 16 games netting 13 goals and handing out seven assists. She finished the season tied for first on the team in draw controls (30). Fisher also had four games where she notched at least three points.
Foley finished the semester with a 3.62 GPA as an economics major. She started all 16 games for Binghamton. She picked up 11 ground balls and caused eight turnovers from the Binghamton's back line in her final season as a Bearcat.
The recognition marks the seventh time the women's lacrosse team has made the list. The Bearcats earned IWLCA Academic Squad honors from 2005-2008, 2011 and 2013. With two more Bearcats being named to the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll, Binghamton has now placed 18 student-athletes on the list since 2006.
Men's soccer picked seventh in America East Preseason Poll
Bearcats seeking to bounce back from injury-plagued 2013 campaign
August 19, 2014Tweet
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VESTAL, N.Y. – The America East Conference has released its 2014 Men's Soccer Preseason Poll and the Bearcats have been picked to place seventh overall. The voting was done by the eight conference coaches, none of whom were permitted to vote for their own team.
Binghamton, which advanced to the conference quarterfinals for the second straight year, suffered a rash of injuries last season. After starting off 2-2-1, the Bearcats lost midfielder Tommy Moon to a season-ending leg injury. Several other starters spent significant time on the disabled list and Binghamton finished 3-11-5.
This season, however, Moon returns for a final season, having been granted a medical redshirt year in 2013. So far during preseason, the Bearcats have been injury free.
UMBC, which advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year, was the unanimous choice to repeat as America East champions. Hartford received the other first-place vote.
Binghamton kicks off its season at Bucknell on August 29.
Women's soccer to host Prospect Clinic on October 5
Event is open to all players in ninth grade and up, held at Bearcats Sports Complex
August 18, 2014Tweet
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VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton women's soccer will host its annual Girls Prospect Clinic on Sunday October 5 at the Bearcats Sports Complex. The clinic runs from 3:30-6 p.m. and is open to all players 9th grade and up.
The clinic is designed to train players in advanced technical and tactical skills. Binghamton head coach Sarah McClellan and assistant coach Kristie Bowers will run players through exercises taken straight from the training grounds of BU's women's soccer program, which has advanced to the postseason eight times in the last 10 years.
Interested players should contact Bowers at (607) 777-6185 or firstname.lastname@example.com or register at http://www.bubearcats.com/index.php/tickets.
Men's Soccer Takes Part In 2014 Wendy's Walk For Kids
Bearcats continue strong tradition of giving back to the community
August 18, 2014Tweet
ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Recap
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VESTAL, N.Y.—When it comes to taking part in charitable events, the BU men's soccer team's participation in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge last week was not an isolated event.
The squad won the BU Athletic Department's Citizenship Award in May, which was presented to the Bearcat program that stood out the most in terms of its community involvement. On Sunday, that tradition continued when the Bearcats took part in the Wendy's Walk for Kids at the Dick's Open Golf Tournament in nearby Endicott.
"These community events are really terrific for our guys to understand about giving back and making connections with people outside of the game," head coach Paul Marco said.
"It's a very high priority of the team to support these charities and be there for the community in general because the community comes out and supports us," graduate student Tommy Moon said.
Wendy's Walk for Kids is a local organization that aims to raise money for children living in the Southern Tier. It is a non-profit organization whose goal is to make a direct difference to children in the area. Over the years, Wendy's Walk for Kids has raised over $750,000 for local charities in the area.
This was the second year in a row that the Bearcats took part in the Wendy's Walk for Kids event at the Dick's Open. After a week of solid preseason training, getting off campus and being a part of such an event gave them a healthy perspective.
"Just because we are going through a tough week of training, it doesn't mean that we can miss out on helping others," sophomore back Charlie Novoth said. "It's good to get out there and also make ourselves known."
Reigning champion baseball hires Jurik as assistant
Former Atlanta Braves draft pick will serve as pitching coach
August 15, 2014Tweet
VESTAL, N.Y. – Two-time defending America East champion Binghamton baseball has added a pitching coach with local ties. After serving the last two years on the staff at St. John Fisher, Dan Jurik joins head coach Tim Sinicki's Bearcats staff for the 2014-15 year.
A right-handed pitcher, Jurik was one of the most accomplished hurlers in St. John Fisher history. He capped a stellar career by becoming the school's first-ever MLB draft pick when he was chosen by the Atlanta Braves in the 25th round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft. Jurik then earned three minor league promotions in his two-year professional career.
This past spring, Jurik helped St. John Fisher roll to a 31-11 record and his work with the pitching staff resulted in one All-America and two all-region selections. The staff held down a 2.80 earned run average with nearly eight strikeouts per game. Jurik helped develop three all-conference pitchers for the Cardinals in 2013, when the team won 28 games.
"I am thrilled that Coach Jurik has decided to join our staff," head coach Tim Sinicki said. "He brings tremendous experience and knowledge as both a player and coach to the program. Coach Jurik has a great passion and enthusiasm for pitching that our players will soon get to experience first hand."
In his senior season at Fisher, Jurik was named the college's Male Athlete of the Year and the Empire 8 Conference Pitcher of the Year. In that 2010 campaign, he went 7-3 on the hill with a 1.99 ERA.
He finished his career as a three-time all-conference selection and career record-holder in strikeouts (202), wins (22) and innings pitched (226.1).
Jurik graduated with a bachelor's degree in marketing from St. John Fisher in 2010, maintaining a 3.49 cumulative GPA. He is currently working toward his MBA from Fisher's Bittner School of Business.
In high school, Jurik stared for nearby Vestal High, earning third team NYSSWA All-State honors in his final year.
At Binghamton, he joins a staff that includes 10th-year assistant coach Ryan Hurba and ninth-year assistant coach Ed Folli. Jurik replaces Dustin Johnson, who is now at George Washington.
Brad Smith hired as head swimming & diving coach
Western Colorado head coach was also an assistant coach at Maine
August 13, 2014Tweet
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VESTAL, N.Y. – The Binghamton Athletic Department has announced the hiring of Brad Smith as its new swimming & diving coach. He arrives from Western Colorado, where he was the head women's coach the previous two years. In addition, Smith was also the assistant coach at Maine from 2009-12.
Smith was named the head women's coach at Western Colorado in 2012, when the program became an intercollegiate sport at the NCAA Division II level. The Mountaineers had previously sponsored an NCAA swimming program from 1960-84. In his two years at the helm, Smith oversaw a squad that produced a NCAA qualifier, set 84 team and pool records and was named a Scholar All-American team in 2014. In addition, Western Colorado had an all-conference swimmer and three academic all-conference honorees during his tenure.
At Maine, Smith was the assistant coach when the Black Bear men's squad placed fourth at the 2011 America East Championships – their highest finish in a decade. During his final two years, Maine broke a total of 21 school records. According to avidasports, the Black Bear men's team ranked ninth nationally in terms of yearly improvement in 2011 while the women were sixth nationally the following year.
"We are very excited to welcome Brad to Binghamton," Director of Athletics Patrick Elliott said. "He is very familiar with the America East Conference as a student-athlete and coach. We look forward to him leading our programs."
A 2007 graduate of Vermont, Smith was a four-year letterwinner for the Catamounts. The following two years, he was the Director of Women's Swimming Operations at Vermont and also was the men's club team coach.
"I am excited and honored to head the men's and women's swimming and diving program at Binghamton University," Smith said. "The university and its swimming & diving program have had a strong tradition of academic excellence and a storied history of success at the individual and team levels. I am excited to become a part of that tradition."
Binghamton University – Bradley Smith named head swimming & diving coach.
Baseball to host 8th annual prospect camp
Program will run from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Bearcats Sports Complex Baseball Field
August 13, 2014Tweet
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VESTAL, N.Y.—For the eighth straight year, Binghamton baseball will host its annual Prospect Camp on Saturday, August 30 at the Bearcats Sports Complex Baseball Field.
The camp is open to all entrants and runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost is $150 per person.
Campers will receive instruction from BU coaches and players and participate in a pro-style workout and controlled scrimmage.
Contact assistant coach Dan Jurik (firstname.lastname@example.com) for more information.
Men's Soccer Team Completes ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
Coaching staff and 13 players to also make donation to the ALS
August 13, 2014Tweet
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VESTAL, N.Y.—The Binghamton men's soccer team began the preseason with a splash…..literally.
Head coach Paul Marco and his staff along with 13 student-athletes answered the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge on Tuesday afternoon. The Bearcats had been challenged by Lois Celeste, whose twin sons Steven and Bret are both on the team. Before taking the ice bath, Marco announced to the media who were present that the BU men's soccer team would also make a donation to the ALS.
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has been spreading on social media over the past few weeks. Each person or group who is challenged has 24 hours to either take an ice bath or make a donation to the ALS. The challenge started in Massachusetts with former Boston College baseball player Pete Frates, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2012. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness, loss of the use of arms and legs and difficulty speaking, breathing and swallowing.
Challenge accepted or not, donations have been pouring in. According to The ALS Association spokeswoman Carrie Munk, the organization has collected $1.35 million from July 29 to Aug. 11.
They're Back!! Women's soccer first to report to campus
Preseason underway; BU will host Temple in season opener on Aug. 22
August 8, 2014Tweet
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VESTAL, N.Y. - The Binghamton women's soccer team was first to report back to campus for the fall when the team checked in on Wednesday.
Seventh-year head coach Sarah McClellan's squad began training on Thursday and will have 15 days to prepare for the team's 2014 season opener vs. Temple on August 22 at the Bearcats Sports Complex.
Binghamton's roster of 27 players includes seven returning starters and 19 returning letterwinners from last fall's 8-8-2 squad that reached the America East quarterfinals.
The team features four seniors, six juniors, nine second-year players and eight freshmen. Senior all-conference defender Connie Gormley and senior keeper Gaby Gold will serve as co-captains. First team all-conference midfielder Rebecca Raber is back for her junior season.
The Bearcats will be aiming for their ninth postseason berth in the last 11 years. In the 10-year anniversary of the program's 2004 America East championship and inaugural NCAA appearance, the 2014 squad will be looking to add its own page in the history books.
2014 Hall of Fame class announced
Four individuals will be joined by first team inductee; Event set for Dec. 6
July 31, 2014Tweet
VESTAL, N.Y. – Binghamton University athletics will recognize four elite individuals plus one record-setting team when the 2014 Athletics Hall of Fame class is inducted on December 6.
Voted into the Hall were women's tennis player Zeynep Altinay '07, men's basketball player Joe Garbarino '58, men's lacrosse player Kevin McKeown '06 and women's basketball player Helene Thomas '85. In addition, the 1983-84 wrestling team will be the first team inducted in a newly created category.
Altinay was a four-year conference all-star for the Bearcats during their early Division I years. She was named America East Player of the Year in both 2005 and 2007 and graduated holding records for most singles wins in a season (30) and career (86). Altinay was the school's Athlete of the Year in 2004-05.
Garbarino was a basketball star during the program's formative years as Harpur College. His career scoring average of 22.0 points per game still ranks second all-time in the school's 66-year basketball history. Garbarino, a two-time team MVP and three-time scoring leader, was named the school's Athlete of the Year in 1956-57.
McKeown became the first BU lacrosse All-American after a 2004 season that saw the goalie rank third in the nation in goals against average. That year he was the America East Player of the Year after leading the Bearcats to the conference regular season title. After setting nearly every season and career goalie record at Binghamton, McKeown served as an assistant coach for four years and then assumed the head coaching duties for the 2011 season.
Like Garbarino, Thomas was a pioneer in the early days of the women's basketball program. She became the school's first 1,000-point scorer and led her team in scoring three straight years. A three-time MVP and two-time all-conference selection, Thomas averaged 18.7 points as a senior. She was the school's Athlete of the Year in 1984-85 and also received the John Bilos Alumni Award in 1985.
The 1983-84 wrestling team, led by Hall of Fame coach Steve Erber, completed an historic season by placing third at the NCAA Championship, hosted by Binghamton at West Gym. That remains the highest national finish of any team in school history. At the NCAA meet, the team produced one national champion (Hall of Famer Tom Pillari) and six All-Americans. Before that, the team won nine dual matches and crowned four SUNYAC champions in a runnerup conference performance.
The 19th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place immediately following the men's basketball home game against Penn on December 6. The inductees will be recognized at halftime of the game and then the formal event will begin at approximately 4 p.m.
There are 91 current Hall of Fame members. Nominations are accepted throughout the year with the selection committee convening each May. Names of worthy candidates, along with supporting material can be emailed to committee chair John Hartrick at email@example.com.
Edmister Finishes Runner Up At NYS Golf Amateur Championship
Former BU standout fires final round 67; loses in playoff at 92nd annual NYSGA event
July 25, 2014Tweet
NYS Amateur Championship Results
SYRACUSE, NY—Recent Binghamton graduate and golf standout Bryce Edmister recently finished in second place at the 92nd annual New York State Amateur Championship on Thursday. The two-time PING All-Region player came from eight strokes behind in the final round, carding a 67 (-4) to force a playoff in which he was defeated by Luke Feehan on the first extra hole.
Edmister, a native of Webster, NY, played a brilliant final 18 holes at the par 71 Bellevue Country Club in Syracuse. On the short par five fifth hole, Edmister capitalized with an eagle and followed that up with a birdie on the par 4 sixth. Through nine holes, Edmister was two-under on his round and started to shave away at the lead after a birdie on the par 5 10th hole brought him closer.
The three-time Binghamton golf MVP wound up making birdie on his final two holes to close out his round at 67 and forced a playoff with Mahopac, NY native and 23-year old Luke Feehan who played his collegiate golf at Boston College. Edmister's comeback fell just short on the first hole of extra play as Feehan wound up making par to corral the 92nd annual NYS Amateur Championship, leaving Edmister in second place alone among 156 players who began play on Tuesday.
Edmister tallied a total of 14 birdies over the four-round event and shot a 72-hole total of 289 (+5). He was -3 on both par fives and par fours on Thursday.
Current Binghamton golfer Cal Addy, who will be a junior next year, also competed in the NYS Amateur Championship. He fell just short of making the round 3 & 4 cut after carding a 78 and 77, respectively in the first two rounds.
Sedgewick Named Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar
Junior becomes sixth Binghamton golfer in Division I school history to earn such honor
July 24, 2014Tweet
GCAA All-America Scholar Release
Contact: Mike Porter (sports1@binghamton)
NORMAN, Okla. – Binghamton golfer Jack Sedgewick has been selected as a Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar as announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). Sedgewick, who enters his senior season in 2014-15, was one of 207 Division I student-athletes who held such a distinction that required over 50 percent participation, a stroke average of 76.0 or better and a minimum grade-point average of 3.2.
Sedgewick, a native of Newmarket, Ontario, had a stellar junior campaign in 2013-14. He competed in 10-of-11 tournaments for the Bearcats and played a large role in yet another successful BU season that included a program record for scoring average (298.5) and a pair of tournament titles. Sedgewick finished third on the team with a scoring average of 75.4 and had three top-10 finishes. He notched a career-best fifth place finish at the Fairleigh Dickinson Spring Invitational in a winning effort and also finished tied for sixth out of 93 competitors playing in the Temple Invitational back in early October.
Equally impressive is Sedgewick's standing in the classroom at Binghamton. The Management major has been on the AD Honor Roll (3.3 GPA or higher) at Binghamton in 5-of-6 semesters and recently was inducted into the National College Athlete Honor Society (Chi Alpha Sigma) on April 23.
The selection is the sixth for Binghamton since joining the Division I ranks in 2002 and last since 2010 (Jake Katz). Overall, BU has nine GCAA selected All-America Scholars, with the first selection coming in 1993 by Chris Sladish (Div. III).
Track & field squads earn USTFCCCA All-Academic Honors
Miceli also tabbed as individual All-Academic Selection
July 23, 2014Tweet
USTFCCCA Release on All-Academic Teams
USTFCCCA Release on Men's All-Academic Selections
by David O'Brian (email@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. – The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) has released its 2013-14 All-Academic selections and Binghamton is well represented on the list. Both the Bearcat men's and women's squads earned team honors and rising junior Joe Miceli earned the USTFCCCA's individual All-Academic award
All teams that maintained an overall 3.0 GPA for the 2013-14 season earned All-Academic honors from the USTFCCCA. The Bearcat women finished with a 3.33 collective GPA while the men earned a 3.04 GPA. This marks the second time in the past three years that both Binghamton squads earned All-Academic honors.
In order to earn individual All-Academic honors, a student-athlete must have a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.2 and have advanced to the NCAA Regional Outdoor Meet. Miceli was inducted into the National College Athlete Honor Society in April and qualified for the East Regional Meet in the pole vault.
This marks the third consecutive year that Binghamton has had an individual earn All-Academic honors from the USTFCCCA. Adam Quinn was selected in 2012 and Jessica Hennig made the list last year.
Binghamton was just as successful on the track this past year. The 2013-14 season was highlighted by both teams earning runner-up finishes at the America East Indoor Championships.
Runner Garn seizes 2013-14 Moment of the Year
No 4 Jesse Garn claims title with 69 percent of vote
July 21, 2014Tweet
Contact: John Hartrick (firstname.lastname@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. - Track runner Jesse Garn captured the third annual Binghamton Athletics "Moment of the Year" Fan Poll. The poll featured the top eight achievements of 2013-14 set up in a seeded, bracket-style format with advancement through the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship matchup.
QUARTERFINAL #1 - No. 1 Baseball vs. No. 8 Sydney Harbaugh
No. 1 seed - Baseball wins second straight America East title and third in six years
Baseball successfully defended its America East crown, besting top-seeded Stony Brook, 8-7, in a thrilling 12-inning title game. Freshman catcher Eddie Posavec delivered a bases loaded RBI single to drive in the game-winning run and clinch BU's second straight conference championship. After losing the opening game of the tournament, the Bearcats reeled off four straight elimination-game victories, becoming just the second team in conference history to accomplish the feat. Senior first baseman Shaun McGraw was named Most Outstanding Player after hitting .450 with five RBI in five games. The Bearcats then made the program's third trip to the NCAA tournament in the last six years.
No. 8 seed - Softball player Sydney Harbaugh is named America East Player of the Year
Sophomore OF Sydney Harbaugh was named America East Softball Player of the Year in 2014 after hitting a team-high .366 on the season. Harbaugh led the league with an outstanding .465 average in conference games and became just the second player in program history (Jessica Phillips, 2011) to earn Player of the Year honors. Harbaugh also was named to the second-team NFCA All-Mid Atlantic Region squad.
RESULTS: Baseball wins with 82% of the vote
QUARTERFINAL #2 - No. 2 Men's Tennis vs. No. 7 Bill Bereszniewicz
No. 2 seed - Men's tennis wins seventh straight America East title and 10th in 13 years
In its final season competing in the America East, the men's tennis team left in style by capturing the program's seventh straight conference championship. Binghamton blanked Stony Brook 4-0 in the championship match. Junior Ismael Dinia secured the winning point with his 6-2, 6-2 victory at fourth singles. The Bearcats wrapped up a dominant run in the America East, winning 10 titles in 13 seasons.
No. 7 seed - Baseball all-star Bill Bereszniewicz is drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Baseball center fielder Bill Bereszniewicz was picked by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 28th-round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Bereszniewicz, a first-team all-conference and second team All-Northeast selection, led the America East in hitting (.367) and stolen bases (23) in his final collegiate season. He became the third Bearcat drafted in the last three years and the program's earliest field position player to be taken since 1990.
RESULTS: Bereszniewicz wins with 66% of the vote
QUARTERFINAL #3 - No. 4 Jesse Garn vs. #5 Men's Lacrosse
No. 4 seed - Track runner Jesse Garn becomes second runner in school history to break four minutes in mile
Junior runner Jesse Garn became just the second runner in school history to break four minutes in the mile in 2014. Garn clocked a 3:59.37 at the Boston/Last Chance Meet in early March, joining former BU standout Erik van Ingen as the only two Binghamton runners to break four minutes. In addition, Garn competed in the prestigious Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games and earned Most Outstanding Indoor Track Athlete at the America East Championship to cap off a remarkable junior campaign.
No. 5 seed - Men's lacrosse starts conference play 4-0, finishes regular season as runnerup
Men's lacrosse started the America East conference season at 4-0 for the first time since 2004 and secured the two-seed in the conference tournament; their first trip back since 2011. The Bearcats finished out regular season play by winning five of their last seven games and pushed eighth-ranked Syracuse to the final minute at the Carrier Dome, narrowly losing 10-8. Six players earned all-conference recognition and head coach Scott Nelson was honored with America East Co-Coach of the Year award honors.
RESULTS: Garn wins with 81% of the vote
QUARTERFINAL #4 No. 3 Cody Reed vs. No. 6 M/W Indoor Track
No. 3 seed - Wrestler Cody Reed defeats two ranked opponents to reach NCAA Championship quarterfinals
Senior wrestler Cody Reed advanced to the NCAA championship for the third consecutive year and then turned heads with two upset wins to reach the national quarterfinals. Reed, who was EIWA runnerup at 197 pounds, knocked off the ninth-seed from Maryland in overtime, 3-1, in the first round and then bounced the eighth-seed from Ohio, 4-0, in the second round. The John Bilos award winner finished his stellar career with 94 wins.
No. 6 seed - Men's and women's indoor track & field teams each finish as America East runnersup
Both the men's and women's track and field teams snatched second-place finishes at the America East Indoor Championships in 2014. The men secured 10 all-conference nods, while the women nabbed an additional four and had their highest finish in school history. Jesse Garn was named Most Outstanding Track Performer, Jon Alkins was honored with the conference's top rookie award and head coach Mike Thompson and his staff were recognized as the men's Co-Staff of the Year.
RESULTS: Cody Reed wins with 56% of the vote
SEMIFINAL # 1 No. 4 Jesse Garn vs. No. 1 Baseball.
RESULTS: Garn wins with 58 percent of the voting
SEMIFINAL # 2 No. 3 Cody Reed vs. No. 7 Bill Bereszniewicz
RESULTS: Bereszniewicz wins with 66 percent of the vote
FINALS: No. 4 Garn vs. No. 7 Bereszniewicz
RESULTS: Garn wins with 69 percent of the vote
Former golf All-American Foote '97 passes away
Captain and three-year standout led team to pair of NCAA top-10 finishes
July 14, 2014Tweet
Contact: John Hartrick (firstname.lastname@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. - Former Binghamton golf captain and All-American Ryan Foote '97 has passed away in Huntersville, N.C.
Foote, 40, who played three seasons for Binghamton during the the program's Division III prominence, succumbed to cancer on Friday. The family will receive friends from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on Tuesday at James Funeral Home in Huntersville. A funeral mass will follow at 3 p.m. at St. Mark Catholic Church.
Foote worked as a financial planner for TIAA-CREF and previously was a senior financial planning analyst at AXA Equitable for four years.
He is survived by a son and a daughter.
"Ryan fought this terrible disease for several years with great vigor and determination," former coach John Affleck noted. "As we remember him from his golfing competition days, he was the ultimate scrambler and accomplished athlete. In life, his attributes were the same. He was a very humble and loving individual. We say goodbye to a dear, kind, considerate and thoughtful friend. We all are better for knowing Ryan Foote."
Foote came to Binghamton in 1994 and helped lead the 1994-95 team to a sixth place finish at the NCAA Division III Championship. He earned two medalist honors during the year, capturing the Hartwick Invitational and the BU Collegiate B.C. Open. He also was runnerup at the Williams Invitational and finished third at the Cornell-Colgate Invite. With a scoring average of 78.6, Foote was named a national All-American after being voted the top golfer in the district.
One year later, Foote and a talented core of teammates made history by winning a school-record eight tournaments during the regular season. The squad then produced another top-10 national finish by placing seventh at the NCAA Championship.
In his senior season, Foote led the team to a half-dozen top-five tournament finishes and another NCAA Championship appearance.
At the year-end Varsity Awards Banquet in 1997, Foote was honored with the athletics department's Jake Pitler Award, given to the one senior male student-athlete who has shown preeminent leadership and achievement throughout his career.
He graduated from Binghamton's School of Management in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in business management.
Men's tennis rakes in ITA Academic Honors
Bearcats have fourth-most individual scholar-athletes of any team in nation
July 11, 2014Tweet
Contact: John Hartrick (firstname.lastname@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton men's tennis earned ITA All-Academic Team distinction and had eight players named Scholar-Athletes for 2014. Only three other teams across the country produced more individual recipients than the Bearcats.
In addition to team honors, the following BU letterwinners were recognized for achieving a 3.5 or higher grade-point average: freshman Alex Sacher, sophomore Alexander Maisin, freshman Doug Notaris, sophomore Eliott Hureau, senior Florian van Kann, senior Harry Lee, junior Robin Lesage and senior Ruben Haggai.
In the last five years, BU has produced 34 ITA Scholar-Athletes.
The only schools with more individual honorees in 2013-14 were Yale (12), Bucknell (10) and St. Louis (9).
During its championship season in the spring, head coach Adam Cohen's team posted a 3.32 GPA.
In 2013-14, the Bearcats were ranked No. 10 in the Northeast and captured the program's seventh straight America East championship. The title was the program's 10th in 13 years of America East membership.
The Bearcats will return four starting singles players as they make their debut in the Mid-American Conference in 2014-15.
Women's Basketball Tips off season at Akron on Nov. 14
Bearcats release 13-game non-conference schedule
July 11, 2014Tweet
2014-15 Non-Conference Schedule
Contact: David O'Brian (firstname.lastname@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. – The Binghamton women's basketball program has released its 2014-15 non-conference schedule, which begins with an appearance at the Akron Tournament Nov. 14-15. The Bearcats square off against the host Zips on Friday, Nov. 14 and meet Delaware State the following day.
Akron won its first-ever Mid-American Conference (MAC) title last season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Zips also took part in the 2013 WNIT.
Four other teams who qualified for post-season play during the 2013-14 campaign also appear on the Bearcats' non-conference slate. Binghamton heads to St. John's (Nov. 28), St. Bonaventure (Nov. 30) and Princeton (Dec. 13). Bucknell visits the Events Center on Dec. 28.
St. John's advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year while both St. Bonaventure and Princeton each appeared in the second round of the WNIT. Bucknell, meanwhile, earned a bid to the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) last year.
The Bearcats' home opener is on Nov. 22 against first-time opponent and BIG EAST Conference member Xavier. Binghamton also hosts Niagara (Nov. 26), Siena (Dec. 19) and Rider (Dec. 21).
Other road games come against Canisius (Nov. 19), first-time opponent NJIT (Dec. 6) and Colgate (Dec. 10).
"We are looking forward to starting the season," first-year head coach Linda Cimino said. "Our non-conference schedule features several teams that made the post season last year and should help us to prepare for the America East Conference."
Binghamton's America East Conference schedule will be released at a later date.
NOTE: Binghamton will also host Mansfield in an exhibition game on Nov. 7 at 5:30 p.m.
Women's Tennis Honored With ITA All-Academic Team Recognition
Three Bearcats make the mark as ITA Scholar-Athletes in 2014
July 11, 2014Tweet
Contact: Mike Porter (email@example.com)
Vestal, N.Y.—The Binghamton University women's tennis team earned Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic team honors on Thursday afternoon. In addition to the team accolade, three student-athletes were selected as scholar-athletes as chosen by the ITA.
Binghamton was recognized after compiling a team grade point average of 3.20 or higher by the ITA for the second straight year. In addition to 2013-14 seasons, the Bearcats have had two more All-Academic teams (2006, 2010).
The first of Binghamton's ITA Scholar-Athletes is Katya Medianik. The Laurel Springs, NY native adds on to her accolades in 2013-14 with the academic nod from the ITA. Medianik, who enters her senior season this fall, is a two-time America East all-academic and all-conference singles player for the Bearcats.
Shea Brodsky joins Medianik as a scholar-athlete, compiling a GPA of over 3.50 following the 2013-14 academic year. Brodsky, an all-conference singles and doubles player in 2014, helped lead Binghamton to their 13th straight America East semifinals appearance.
Missy Edelblum rounds out the scholar-athletes for Binghamton in 2014. Edelblum, who hails from Roslyn, NY, was an America East all-academic member in 2013.
Men's basketball releases 2014-15 non-conference slate
BU will face Notre Dame, Providence, Boston College; will play 15 games in Nov-Dec
July 11, 2014Tweet
2014-15 Non-Conference Schedule
Contact: John Hartrick (firstname.lastname@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. – Binghamton men's basketball released its 15-game non-conference schedule on Friday and several intriguing matchups await head coach Tommy Dempsey's 2014-15 Bearcats.
After home exhibition games against Mansfield (Nov. 1) and Oswego State (Nov. 7), BU will head to South Bend, Ind. for its season opener against ACC member Notre Dame - the first of two games against ACC schools and the first of four games as part of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament. The Irish have advanced to the NCAA tournament four times in the last five years.
The Bearcats will then travel to Providence on Nov. 17 to face a Friars team that won 23 games and captured the BIG EAST title in 2013-14.
Binghamton will host Hartwick in its home opener on Nov. 19 before playing its final two Hall of Fame games at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. First up will be a Nov. 22 tilt against a Manhattan team that went 25-8 and advanced to the NCAA tournament. Then the Bearcats will either face Northeastern or Navy in the bracket championship or consolation game on Nov. 23.
An away game at Army (Nov. 25) and home game against regional rival Cornell (Nov. 29) bookend Thanksgiving and close out the first month of the season.
In December, BU will renew its rivalry with former America East foe Boston University (away, Dec. 3), an NIT participant and Patriot League regular season champion last winter. Binghamton then has two home games in a three-day stretch when Ivy League member Penn and first-time opponent Caldwell come to the Events Center on Dec. 6 and Dec. 8 respectively.
After a Dec. 11 game at Colgate, BU heads back to Boston for a first-time meeting with ACC member Boston College (Dec. 14). That game begins a tough final stretch to the calendar year. Binghamton hosts Atlantic-10 member St. Bonaventure on Dec. 22, plays at 2014 NCAA participant Mt. St. Mary's on Dec. 22 and then finishes up on Dec. 30 against a Buffalo program that won 19 games last season.
In all, BU will face six opponents who won 18 or more games in 2013-14 and four who advanced to the NCAA tournament. The breakdown of 15 games is six at home, seven on the road and two neutral.
Dempsey returns four starters and nine letterwinners from his 2013-14 BU squad.
Men's basketball releases 2014-15 non-conference slate
BU will face Notre Dame, Providence, Boston College; will play 15 games in Nov-Dec
July 11, 2014Tweet
2014-15 Non-Conference Schedule
Contact: John Hartrick (firstname.lastname@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. – Binghamton men's basketball released its 15-game non-conference schedule on Friday and several intriguing matchups await head coach Tommy Dempsey's 2014-15 Bearcats.
After home exhibition games against Mansfield (Nov. 1) and Oswego State (Nov. 7), BU will head to South Bend, Ind. for its season opener against ACC member Notre Dame - the first of two games against ACC schools and the first of four games as part of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament. The Irish have advanced to the NCAA tournament four times in the last five years.
The Bearcats will then travel to Providence on Nov. 17 to face a Friars team that won 23 games and captured the BIG EAST title in 2013-14.
Binghamton will host Hartwick in its home opener on Nov. 19 before playing its final two Hall of Fame games at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. First up will be a Nov. 22 tilt against a Manhattan team that went 25-8 and advanced to the NCAA tournament. Then the Bearcats will either face Northeastern or Navy in the bracket championship or consolation game on Nov. 23.
An away game at Army (Nov. 25) and home game against regional rival Cornell (Nov. 29) bookend Thanksgiving and close out the first month of the season.
In December, BU will renew its rivalry with former America East foe Boston University (away, Dec. 3), an NIT participant and Patriot League regular season champion last winter. Binghamton then has two home games in a three-day stretch when Ivy League member Penn and first-time opponent Caldwell come to the Events Center on Dec. 6 and Dec. 8 respectively.
After a Dec. 11 game at Colgate, BU heads back to Boston for a first-time meeting with ACC member Boston College (Dec. 14). That game begins a tough final stretch to the calendar year. Binghamton hosts Atlantic-10 member St. Bonaventure on Dec. 22, plays at 2014 NCAA participant Mt. St. Mary's on Dec. 22 and then finishes up on Dec. 30 against a Buffalo program that won 19 games last season.
In all, BU will face six opponents who won 18 or more games in 2013-14 and four who advanced to the NCAA tournament. The breakdown of 15 games is six at home, seven on the road and two neutral.
Dempsey returns four starters and nine letterwinners from his 2013-14 BU squad.
BU leads America East in spring academic honors
Bearcats have league-high 172 recipients; AD Honor Roll also released
July 10, 2014Tweet
Contact: John Hartrick (firstname.lastname@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. – Binghamton produced the most high-achieving student-athletes in the America East during the spring semester. The conference released its Honor Roll (3.0+ GPA) and Commissioner's Honor Roll (3.5+) Thursday afternoon and Binghamton led both lists.
A total of 172 BU spring athletes were named to the America East Honor Roll, ahead of runnerup UMBC (164), Stony Brook (158), Vermont (153) and Albany (150) in the top-five. The Bearcats also had the most individuals on the elite Commissioner's Honor Roll with 86. More than 62 percent of Binghamton's spring-semester athletes surpassed a 3.0 during their seasons. Overall, BU student-athletes achieved a 3.11 GPA in the spring – the 17th straight semester above the 3.0 mark.
Eleven members of the championship men's tennis team were honored – the highest total of any tennis program in the America East. The title-winning baseball team put 15 members on the Honor Roll. Binghamton's softball team had a conference-best 16 players on the list.
The America East as a whole showed off its academic stature with some staggering percentages. More than 50 percent of all student-athletes in the conference achieved a 3.5 or higher grade-point average and more than 61 percent reached the 3.0 threshold.
Back on campus, BU announced its AD Honor Roll recipients (3.3+) for the spring and that group totaled 183 student-athletes spanning 18 teams. The women's soccer team led the way with 17 members. The women's cross country team, which captured the department's semester Academic Cup with a lofty 3.69 GPA, had 10 members on the AD Honor Roll.
Golf Releases Schedule for 2014 Fall Season
Bearcats to compete in six events, headlined by home event on Oct. 5-6
July 10, 2014Tweet
Vestal, N.Y.—The Binghamton golf team and head coach Bernie Herceg have announced their upcoming schedule for the 2014 fall season. The Bearcats will compete in six different tournaments over the course of September and October, and will host the third annual BU Collegiate Fall Invitational at The Links at Hiawatha Landing on Otctober 5-6.
Binghamton opens up the season in Hamilton, NY at the Colgate Fall Invitational on Sept. 6-7 at Seven Oaks GC. Last fall, Binghamton was crowned champions of the 14-team field, beating out 2012 winners Youngstown State by eight strokes. In total, BU has won the Colgate Invitational five times and will be one of the favorites in the 54-hole tournament.
Two weeks later, the Bearcats once again tee it up at a familiar course and event, playing in the Cornell Fall Invitational in nearby Ithaca. Binghamton has placed first at the Robert Trent Jones designed course four times in the last five years and boasts a pair of individual tournament medalists, including senior Josh Holling who topped the field in 2012. Closing out the month of September, Binghamton travels to Lorton, Virginia to compete in the Patriot Intercollegiate, the third annual event hosted by A-10 school George Mason.
Beginning on the morning of Sunday, October 5, the Bearcats will play host during the 36-hole BU Collegiate Fall Invitational. Teams will square off at Binghamton's home course, The Links at Hiawatha Landing, over the span of two days at the beautiful links style course in Apalachin. In 2013, Binghamton finished in third place out of 13 schools after the event had been cut down to just 18 holes due to weather.
The following two weekends, Binghamton wraps up their fall competition at both the Big 5 Invitational (Oct. 11-12) and at the Lehigh Invitational (Oct. 18-19). The Big 5 Invitational, which is hosted by Temple, has been a mainstay on the Binghamton schedule over the years. The Bearcats have played in the Philadelphia event five of the last six fall seasons.
Binghamton will take their final tournament swings of the fall at the Lehigh Invitational and Saucon Valley CC where the 2013 championship trophy was hoisted by Rutgers.
Binghamton had a strong year in 2013-14, finishing in the top-5 of the field on seven occasions, including a pair of tournament victories at the Colgate Invitational and Fairleigh Dickinson Spring Invitational. The Bearcats, who set a school record for scoring average this past season (298.5), returns all but one letterwinner for the 2014-15 campaign.
Six Bearcats named America East Presidential Scholar-Athletes
Nicholson, Klein, King, Kurth, van Kann and O'Brien cited for academic success
July 2, 2014Tweet
Contact: David O'Brian (email@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. – The America East Conference has announced its inaugural Presidential Scholar-Athlete class and six graduating Binghamton student-athletes have been named to the list. Selected from BU are Ben Nicholson (men's soccer), Mikala King (softball), Emma Kurth (women's soccer), Conor O'Brien (women's soccer), Kathleeen Klein (track & field) and Florian van Kann (men's tennis).
In addition to registering a 3.75 GPA for their college career, honored student-athletes must have received their undergraduate degree in the academic year they are honored and have attended their institution for a minimum of two years.
Kurth and van Kann have been named to the America East All-Academic Team in their sport the past two seasons. Nicholson, O'Brien and Klein was tabbed this year while King was selected following her junior season.
Klein and van Kann were also named all-conference during the recent spring season.
Holt and Fagan to compete at U.S. Junior National Track Meet
Two-day event runs July 5-6 in Eugene, Oregon
July 1, 2014Tweet
Contact: David O'Brian (email@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. – Rising sophomores Eric Holt and Peter Fagan are heading to the U.S. Junior National Track & Field Championships, which take place July 5-6 at Heyward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Holt will compete in the 1,500 while Fagan is entered in the pole vault.
Both Holt and Fagan are coming off solid rookie campaigns, having earned America East All-Conference honors during both the indoor and outdoor seasons. Holt was a close second in the 1,500 at the America East Outdoor Championships and was part of the first-place distance medley relay team at the conference indoor meet and the IC4A Indoor Championships. Fagan, meanwhile, was third in the pole vault at both the indoor and outdoor conference meets.
Holt is one of 20 athletes who are officially entered in the 1,500. The qualifying standard for that event is 3:53,44 and Holt's top time of 3:48.94 is the ninth-fastest in the field. Patrick Joseph of Virginia Tech's has the fastest overall time (3:43.70).
In the pole vault, Fagan is one of 23 athletes who met the qualifying standard of 5.00 meters (16-4 feet). His top height going into the meet is exactly 5.00 meters. Devin King of Bartolina Athletics leads the field with a top jump of 5.21 meters (17-10 ¼ feet).
The first round of the 1,500 is on Saturday, July 5 at 9:50 p.m. EST (6:50 p.m. local time). The finals are the following day at 8:20 p.m. EST. The pole vault will be held on Saturday starting at 7:00 p.m. EST.
Binghamton on solid footing in America East rankings
BU one of just two programs among top-5 in academic, athletics Cup standings
June 26, 2014Tweet
America East Academic Cup Release
America East Commissioner's Cup Release
Contact: John Hartrick (firstname.lastname@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y.—With steadfast performance in the academic and athletic arenas, Binghamton continued its solid showing in the two America East rankings. During 2013-14, BU finished fifth (out of nine) in both the America East Academic Cup and Commissioner's Cup. Binghamton was one of just two schools to register a top-five finish each of the two primary measures of success.
Hartford captured the Academic Cup with a 3.28 GPA. New Hampshire was in second place with a 3.20, followed by Maine (3.16), Vermont (3.15) and Binghamton (3.14) in the top five. Stony Brook (3.08), UMBC (3.07), Albany (3.03) and UMass Lowell (3.01) completed the academic rankings.
Binghamton has captured two Academic Cups (2001-02 and 2002-03) - each ironically with a lower GPA than BU's student-athletes have recorded in each of the last six years.
On the strength of two conference titles in the spring, the Bearcats moved up to fifth place in the final Stuart P. Haskell, Jr. Commissioner's Cup standings. The Cup annually recognizes the strongest athletic program in America East as determined by a scoring system which rewards a school for success both during the regular season and championship competition in the conference's 19 sports.
It was BU's 13th straight year finishing in fifth place or higher. Binghamton captured league titles in men's tennis (seventh straight) and baseball (second straight) and also earned runnerup finishes in men's cross country, men's indoor track & field and women's indoor track & field.
Albany won the title with 369 points, followed by Stony Brook (338), UMBC (298) New Hampshire (283) and Binghamton (242) in the top five, which remained exactly the same from the 2012-13 year. Vermont (209), Hartford (202), Maine (170) and UMass Lowell (129) occupied the remaining positions.
BU in America East Academic Cup
2001-02 1st of 9 (3.05)
2002-03 1st of 9 (3.07)
2003-04 4th of 10 (3.02)
2004-05 6th of 10 (2.96)
2005-06 6th of 9 (2.97)
2006-07 3rd of 9 (3.06)
2007-08 5th of 9 (3.04)
2008-09 2nd of 9 (3.12)
2009-10 3rd of 9 (3.11)
2010-11 6th of 9 (3.10)
2011-12 4th of 9 (3.11)
2012-13 T-3rd of 9 (3.12)
2013-14 5th of 9 (3.14)
BU in America East Commissioner's Cup
2002-03 9th of 9 (first full year in conference)
2003-04 4th of 10
2004-05 3rd of 10
2005-06 2nd of 9
2006-07 3rd of 9
2007-08 4th of 9
2008-09 3rd of 9
2009-10 4th of 9
2010-11 4th of 9
2011-12 5th of 9
2012-13 5th of 9
2013-14 5th of 9
Women's Basketball Accepts Cold Water Challenge
Head coach Linda Cimino and her staff participates in #Chillin4Charity
June 25, 2014Tweet
VESTAL, N.Y. – A cold water challenge in support of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund began trending on social media over the past two weeks, especially within the women's basketball community. The Binghamton women's basketball staff is the latest group of coaches to accept the challenge and complete the #Chillin4Charity.
"This is a cause and challenge that has swept the country," head coach Linda Cimino said. "Anytime you can help raise money for breast cancer awareness, I'm all for it. It's a cause that is near to my heart with my mother being a two-time breast cancer survivor. I'm just so proud and happy that we could be a part of this."
#Chillin4Charity began last week at the University of Arizona, where head coach Niya Butts initiated the challenge to several other coaches in the Pac-12. She had a cooler of ice-cold water dumped on her and she called out others to follow suit. If they accepted her challenge, Butts would donate $50 per coach to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and coaches who didn't accept the challenge would donate $250. Butts' assistant coaches joined in the fun too, challenging fellow assistant coaches and donating $25 per coach that accepts and those who don't accept will donate $100.
Cimino and assistant coaches Mike Leflar and Torey Northrup-Jones along with players Kim Albrecht, Kristin Ross and Gintare Surdokaite accepted the challenge and passed it on to others. The Bearcats' third assistant coach Leah Truncale was also challenged and will be completing it while on vacation in Ireland.
Coach Cimino and the Binghamton staff were challenged by its America East counterparts at New Hampshire and head coach Maureen Magarity. Coach Cimino then offered the #Chillin4Charity challenge to Jean Burr from Brown University, Kim Barnes-Arico from Michigan University, Amy Huchthausen, the Commissioner of the America East and Tina Cervasio of MSG. Each of them will now have 48 hours to resond to coach Cimino's challenge or donate $250 to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. If each person coach Cimino called-out accepts her challenge she will donate $50 per person to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
The challenge went viral and moved from the Pac-12 to women's basketball programs across the country. #Chillin4Charity spread from women's basketball to other sports and members of the media as well including ESPN's Rece Davis.
Also joining the cold-water fun are women's basketball players, who, instead of donating money, are giving their time in honor of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. For each player that accepts, a designated amount of community service will be completed.
As of last Friday over 400 Division I coaches have participated in the #Chillin4Charity challenge and raised nearly $12,000 in support of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
The rules to the Cold Water Challenge are as followed:
- All parties have 48 hours from the release to answer the challenge.
- Use the hashtags #Chillin4Charity and #Play4Kay.
- Any head coach that does not answer the challenge will owe the Kay Yow Foundation $250.
- Any assistant coach that does not answer the challenge will owe the Kay Yow Foundation $100.
- Any student-athlete that does not answer the challenge will owe five hours of community service.
- For each head coach that answers the challenge, the original challenger will owe the Kay Yow Foundation $50.
- For each assistant coach that answers the challenge, each assistant will owe the Kay Yow Foundation $25.
- For each player that does answer the challenge, each UNH women's basketball player will owe two hours of community service.
The Kay Yow Cancer Fund was officially founded on December 3, 2007, from the vision of the organization's namesake Kay Yow, former North Carolina State University head women's basketball coach. Yow was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987, and passed away on January 24, 2009, after facing her third bout with the disease. Before her death, she joined forces with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and The V Foundation for Cancer Research to form the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, a charitable organization committed to being a part of finding an answer in the fight against women's cancers.
To learn more about Kay Yow Foundation or make a donation, please visit KayYow.com.
Lesage, Thomas named America East Scholar-Athletes
Pair are voted as top student-athlete in respective spring sports of men's tennis, baseball
June 25, 2014Tweet
Contact: John Hartrick (email@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. - Two of Binghamton's elite spring student-athletes have been honored by the America East, the conference announced Wednesday afternoon. Junior tennis player Robin Lesage and junior baseball player Jake Thomas were voted as the lone Scholar-Athletes representing their respective sports. After each player helped led his team to a conference crown in 2014, the pair now become BU's 34th and 35th recipients during the school's 13-year America East tenure. It's the fourth straight year that multiple Binghamton student-athletes have earned the high honor.
Lesage carries a 3.92 grade-point average in management/marketing. He was a first-team all-conference singles player who helped BU win its seventh consecutive America East championship this past April. Lesage is the seventh BU men's tennis player to earn the top academic honor in the conference.
Thomas holds a 3.53 GPA in management. He was a first team all-conference and second team all-region selection after helping the Bearcats capture their second straight America East baseball title and third in six years. Thomas is the third BU baseball player to be selected.
Nominees were put forward by their institution's sports information staff, which could nominate up to one student-athlete per sport. Then, a committee of athletic administrators and NCAA Faculty Athletics Representatives chose an honoree in each of the nine spring championship sports. Each America East Scholar-Athlete was a starter or prominent reserve and carries a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.50. Lesage and Thomas will automatically be eligible for the America East Female or Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year award to be announced in July.
Binghamton America East Scholar-Athletes
(one chosen per sport each year)
2001-02 (1): Adam Fuchs (golf)
2002-03 (1): Amy Weissberg (women's tennis)
2003-04 (2): Brad Moulton (golf), Yun Qu (women's swimming & diving)
2004-05 (4): Jeff Wolniewicz (golf), Robert Kaczynski (men's swimming & diving), Dan Hanegby (men's tennis), Huijue Cai (women's swimming & diving)
2005-06 (5): Brendon Hitchcock (baseball), Jeff Wolniewicz (golf), Kevin McKeown (men's lacrosse), Brian Koizim (men's swimming & diving), Lya Kushnirovich (women's tennis)
2006-07 (4): Rory Quiller* (men's indoor track & field), Megan Hoag (volleyball), Brian Koizim (men's swimming & diving), Brendon Hitchcock (baseball)
2007-08 (3): Rory Quiller* (men's indoor track & field), Jacki Kane (volleyball), Brenno Varanda (men's swimming & diving)
2008-09 (1): Sven Vloedgraven (men's tennis)
2009-10 (1): Sven Vloedgraven* (men's tennis)
2010-11 (5): Sven Vloedgraven* (men's tennis), Chris Gaube (men's cross country), Michelle McDonough (volleyball), Amanda Ciccone (women's swimming & diving), Joe Perez-Rogers (men's swimming & diving)
2011-12 (3): Adam Quinn (men's indoor track & field), Alexandre Haggai (men's tennis), Robb Quiller (men's outdoor track & field)
2012-13 (3): Grace Vickers (volleyball), Jessica Bump (softball), Ruben Haggai (men's tennis)
2013-14 (2): Robin Lesage (men's tennis), Jake Thomas (baseball)
* also named the overall America East Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Perrelle Tabbed Interim Head Men's Lacrosse Coach At Marywood
Former BU standout Tyler Perrelle will lead Division III program in 2014-15
June 25, 2014Tweet
Scranton, PA—Former Binghamton men's lacrosse standout Tyler Perrelle has recently been elevated to interim head men's lacrosse coach at Division III Marywood University. Perrelle, who graduated from Binghamton in 2013, served as an assistant coach with Marywood last season and led the Pacers to a runner-up finish in their conference, the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC).
Perrelle, a native of Mahopac, N.Y., was a four-year letterwinner for the Bearcats. His name is covered all over the Binghamton record books, including ranking tied for seventh in games played (56), seventh in goals (55), third in shots (295), third in points (110) and is tied for the program record in career assists with 55. He was named team MVP in 2012 and earned America East All-Rookie and All-Tournament team honors during his time at Binghamton.
As a senior in 2013, the talented midfielder earned a spot on the Tewaaraton Award Preseason Watch List, becoming just the second Binghamton player to receive such an honor. In addition, Perrelle served as team captain during his final season with the Bearcats and was selected to compete in the prestigious USILA/Laxworld North-South All-Star Game.
Upon graduating from Binghamton, Perrelle accepted a position as an assistant coach in Marywood's men's lacrosse program. He served under head coach Scott Dalgliesh and helped guide the Pacers to a 10-9 season overall. With his guidance, Marywood advanced to the CSAC final and clinched a berth into the ECAC Mid-Atlantic Region Tournament.
Cross country opens 2014 with home meet vs. Albany on Sept. 5
America East Championships to be held at Maine on Nov. 1
June 23, 2014Tweet
Contact: David O'Brian (email@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. – The Binghamton cross country program has finalized its 2014 schedule, which begins with a home dual meet against Albany on Sept. 5. The races against the Great Danes will start at 5 p.m.
Also on the slate are trips to the Iona Meet of Champions on Sept. 20 and to Lehigh, for the Paul Short Run on Oct. 4. In addition, the Bearcat men are scheduled to head to the Princeton Invitational on Oct. 18 while the women are at the Albany Invitational that same day.
The championship season starts with the America East meet, which will be hosted by Maine on Nov. 1. Van Cortlandt Park, meanwhile, is the home course for this year's NCAA Northeast Regional Meet (Nov. 14) as well as the ECAC/IC4A Championships (Nov. 22). Also on Nov. 22 is the NCAA Championship Meet at Indiana State.
Binghamton was second on the men's side at the 2013 America East Championships, which it hosted last Nov. 2. The women, meanwhile, were ninth overall. At the conclusion of the year, the Bearcat men were ranked No. 10 in the final USTFCCCA Northeast Region Poll.
Junior Ethan Hausmann and senior Matt Johnson are the top men's returnees from last year while junior Alexis Hatcher is the women's top veteran.
Garn competes in 800 at U.S. National Track Championships
Junior middle distance clocks time of 1:50.80, places sixth in his heat
June 23, 2014Tweet
U.S. National Track & Field Championship Website
Contact: David O'Brian (firstname.lastname@example.com)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Junior middle distance standout Jesse Garn took part in the U.S. National Track & Field Championships on Thursday evening in Sacramento, running in the quarterfinals of the 800. He placed sixth in his heat with a time of 1:50.80. The top three finishers in each of the four heats, as well as the next four fastest times advanced to Friday's semifinal round.
"Tonight was a tough run for Jesse, but we are really proud of him advancing to this meet," assistant track coach Annette Acuff said. "This will really help prepare him for the big meets he will run in the next two years."
Garn, who redshirted during the recent outdoor track season, was named the men's Most Outstanding Track Athlete at the America East Indoor Championships Feb. 23-24. He won the 1,000 and anchored the first-place distance medley relay team. On Feb. 14, he competed in the famous Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games.
His signature race, however, came on March 1 when he broke four minutes in the mile to win the Boston/Last Chance Meet. Garn's time of 3:59.37 just missed the qualifying mark for the NCAA Indoor Track Championships.
In 2012, Garn placed third overall in the 800 at the U.S. Junior National Track & Field Championships. As a freshman and sophomore, he also advanced to the NCAA East Regional Outdoor Meet and was a finalist both years (in the 800 in 2012 and in the 1,500 in 2013).
Heading into the 2014-15 academic year, Garn has one season of cross country eligibility remaining as well as two full track seasons (both indoor and outdoor).
Garn is the third Binghamton track & field athlete to compete at a U.S. National Championship. Rory Quiller took part in the 2008 and 2011 indoor meets while Erik van Ingen ran in the 2011 outdoor championship.
NOTE: Since Garn was redshirting during the 2014 outdoor track season, he ran unattached at the W.C. Henderson Invitational.
Wambold Qualifies For 101st Pennsylvania Amateur Championship
Standout sophomore shares medalist honors at qualifying tournament
June 20, 2014Tweet
Macungie, PA—Kyle Wambold, who will begin his sophomore season with the Binghamton golf team in 2014-15, has qualified for the 101st Pennsylvania Amateur Championship which will be held on July 28-30 at Oakmont CC. Wambold fired a 71 (-1) at Brookside Country Club and was one of nine players who moved on to the Amateur state championship event.
The Macungie, PA native had a terrific back-nine that carried him to medalist honors, shooting a 33 (-3) at Brookside CC. Wambold hit 14-of-18 greens in regulation and tied with two others at the top (Andy Latowski and Kyle Sterbinsky) on Thursday.
"I tried to play conservatively in the fairway," Wambold told Karl Gilbert of Lehigh Valley Live following his medalist performance. "I set myself up for a second shot. I can't wait for Oakmont. I have never played it before."
The Pennsylvania Amateur Championship has a rich history and has been a yearly event since 1909 (with the exception of World War I and II). Past winners include Art Wall (1959 Masters Champion), R. Jay Sigel (11-time winner) and George E. "Buddy" Marucci Jr., who won the event on four occasions and finished runner-up to Tiger Woods in the 1995 U.S. Amateur Championship.
Wambold had a spectacular freshman campaign for the Bearcats in 2013-14. He accumulated four top-10 finishes and was fourth on the team in scoring average at 75.6. His best finish came at the Wildcat Invitational where he tied for third place in a large field of 89 players. He was one of three players who competed in all 11 tournaments for Binghamton and sparked the Bearcats to a pair of first-place finishes.
The state championship is a 54-hole event with the top-40 low scores qualifying for the final 18 holes of play. The field will include 120 players from six different qualifying tournaments throughout the state. First round action will begin on Monday, July 28 at the prestigious Oakmont CC which has been the host of eight US Opens, five US Amateurs and three PGA Championship events.
Student-athletes soar to 3.11 GPA in spring
Nearly two-thirds of athletes recorded 3.0 or higher GPA; almost half achieved a 3.3 or higher
June 19, 2014Tweet
Contact: John Hartrick (firstname.lastname@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y.—Binghamton student-athletes completed a record-setting year in the classroom with a stellar spring semester. The University's 398 student-athletes produced a 3.11 GPA in the spring. It marked the 17th consecutive semester the department has surpassed the 3.0 plateau and the fourth straight term that BU student-athletes have eclipsed the 3.1 threshold.
During the full 2013-14 academic year (fall and spring), BU student-athletes achieved a 3.13 GPA – the highest mark during Binghamton's 13-year Division I tenure. The department has registered a 3.10 or higher GPA for six consecutive years.
The women's cross country team, which captured the department's Academic Cup with a historical-best 3.69 GPA, led 14 teams that came in above the 3.0 level. Nearly two-thirds of the entire student-athlete body (283, 66%) notched a 3.0 and nearly half (206, 48%) eclipsed the 3.3 mark.
"We're very proud of the academic success of our student-athletes, especially the tremendous results achieved this spring," Director of Athletics Patrick Elliott said. "We continue to raise the bar in the academic arena, and the steadfast commitment and performance of our student-athletes is truly remarkable."
A total of 17 student-athletes spanning 12 different teams earned a perfect semester GPA of 4.0.
Student-Athlete Semester GPAs since 2009
Fall 2009: 3.07
Spring 2010: 3.15
Fall 2010: 3.07
Spring 2011: 3.17
Fall 2011: 3.11
Spring 2012: 3.09
Fall 2012: 3.12
Spring 2013: 3.10
Fall 2013: 3.15
Spring 2014: 3.11
Team Academic Cup winners (established in Fall 2010)
Fall 2010: Men's Tennis (3.61)
Spring 2011: Men's Tennis (3.62)
Fall 2011: Men's Tennis (3.57)
Spring 2012: Women's Soccer (3.43)
Fall 2012: Women's Tennis (3.59)
Spring 2013: Women's Tennis (3.48)
Fall 2013: Women's Soccer (3.46)
Spring 2014: Women's Cross Country (3.69)
Season Recap: Baseball wins another championship
BU captures second straight America East crown, plays in NCAAs for third time in last six years
June 17, 2014Tweet
NCAA Selection Show highlights
Contact: John Hartrick (email@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. - On paper, Binghamton's second-straight conference championship and NCAA Regional appearance will look like a predictable and proper result. After all, BU returned its entire starting lineup from its 2013 championship team. However, this title wound up being won on heart as much as talent.
Binghamton had to climb over piles of adversity to claim the program's third America East title in the last six years — the most crowns of any conference team in that span.
• The team lost its starting catcher in early March
• Two of the team's projected top-4 starting pitchers weren't available over the final six weeks of the season
• The team's opening-day first baseman and third baseman missed a combined 52 games with injuries, including the final five postseason games
• Entering the America East Championship, 40% of the team's roster was unavailable with injuries
• The third-seeded Bearcats dropped the opening game of the tournament. In the league's 25-year history, no other team had won four straight elimination games, including the final two against the top-seed.
But instead of wilting, BU gutted out a 25-win season and with 11 wins in its last 16 regular season games, the Bearcats secured the No. 3 seed for the America East tournament. There, they shook off an opening-game loss and ran the table with four straight wins — including a pair of dramatic one-run victories over top-seeded Stony Brook, to claim the title. After hitting .272 during the regular season, BU hit .312 in the tournament and got huge pitching contributions from three unheralded freshmen, two sophomores and two relief pitchers, one of whom threw a complete-game shutout in just his second career start.
"This team had an incredible resiliency. We had a veteran group mixed in with some talented young players and they showed the ability to stay focused all year through some highs and lows. They always found a way to get the job done. I was blown away by their sense of confidence."
- Head Coach Tim Sinicki
2014 Highlights
• Won four consecutive elimination games to capture the program's second straight America East championship and third in six years
• Played in the America East title game for the fifth time in the last eight seasons
• Became the first team in the league's 25-year history to knock off the top-seed in back-to-back tournament games to win the crown
• Earned the No. 3 seed after the regular season — extending the league's longest streak of securing a top-three tournament seed to eight straight years
• Played at the NCAA Stillwater Regional, losing to seventh-ranked Oklahoma State and then 19th-ranked Nebraska in a game BU led in the 9th inning
• BU ranked in the nation's top 20% in fielding percentage for a second straight year (.973)
• Senior center fielder Bill Bereszniewicz was drafted in the 28th round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers - the sixth BU player drafted in the last seven years
• Bereszniewicz and senior second baseman Daniel Nevares both named to ABCA All-Northeast Region team - BU was the only team in America East to have two position players selected
• Six players earned All-Conference honors and two were named to the All-Academic Team
• Four players selected to the America East All-Championship Team
• Senior first baseman Shaun McGraw was named Most Outstanding Player at the America East Championship after hitting .450 with five RBI in five games
• Bereszniewicz led the America East in batting (.367), hits (school-record 77), triples (5) and stolen bases (school-record 23)
• Freshman catcher Eddie Posavec caught 336 consecutive innings (38 games) to end the season. He hit .315 in the regular season — tops among all America East rookies and was selected to the All-Championship Team after hitting .400 with the title-clinching RBI
• Junior Greg Ostner fired a complete-game shutout against Hartford in an elimination game and didn't allow a run in two tournament appearances (11.0 innings), earning All-Championship Team recognition
• Nevares and senior John Howell (SS) started 177 career games together — the most of any middle-infield tandem in program history — and turned 66 career double plays (19 in 2014)
• Junior Anthony Grillini pitched 5.2 shutout innings to notch the win in the America East championship game and held a 0.00 ERA in two tournament appearances, earning All-Championship Team honors
Additional 2014 Superlatives
• Bereszniewicz set school records with 77 hits and 23 stolen bases
• Bereszniewicz hit .401 (55-137) over last 33 games (8 weeks of season) and had 15-game hit streak, 18 multi-hit games and never went more than one game without a hit during span
• Bereszniewicz ranks 38th in the country in triples, 46th in stolen bases and 57th in average
• Sophomore pitcher Jake Cryts led America East and ranked 11th in the country in starts (16)
• Junior pitcher Greg Ostner led America East in appearances (21) and ranked third in ERA (2.81)
• Set school records for season stolen bases (75) and double plays (41)
• Led America East in double plays, home runs (18), slugging (.372), triples (14) and stolen bases
• Had two of America East's top-6 in slugging (#3 Nevares and #6 Bereszniewicz), on-base (#3 Bereszniewicz and #6 Nevares) and RBI (T-6 Thomas and Nevares)
• Had three of America East's top-8 in home runs (#2 Thomas, T-3 Nevares and T-8 McGraw)
• Had two of America East's top-4 pitchers for innings pitched (#3 Cryts and #4 Jack Rogalla) and wins (T-6 Cryts and Rogalla)
Bereszniewicz and Nevares named baseball all-region
Pair earns second team ABCA All-Northeast honors; Bereszniewicz also grabs All-ECAC honors
June 16, 2014Tweet
ABCA All-Northeast Region Teams
Contact: John Hartrick (firstname.lastname@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton baseball seniors Bill Bereszniewicz and Daniel Nevares have earned ABCA All-Northeast Region honors, the association announced Monday afternoon. Each player was picked to the second team, as voted by the region's head coaches. Bereszniewicz also picked up second team All-ECAC honors in a separate vote of that organization's head coaches. The pair led the Bearcats to their second consecutive America East crown and NCAA Regional appearance in 2014.
The Northeast Region is comprised of 39 teams spread across nine different conferences, including the BIG EAST and Atlantic-10. Binghamton was the only America East team to put multiple position players on the all-star team.
It's the first time since 2010 that BU has produced two or more all-region players (Corey Taylor and James Giulietti in 2010). Bereszniewicz is the first Bearcat to earn ECAC honors since current Double-A pitcher Murphy Smith was the 2009 ECAC Pitcher of the Year.
"This is a well-deserved honor for two outstanding young men who had great seasons and have meant so much to our program," head coach Tim Sinicki said.
Bereszniewicz was taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 28th round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft after a record-breaking senior season. A first-team all-conference player who led the America East in hitting (.367) and stolen bases (23), he is now starting his professional career with the Arizona Dodgers of the Arizona Rookie League.
The center fielder hit .401 over the last two months of the season and set the school single-season record with 77 hits. Bereszniewicz led the conference in four offensive categories (average, hits, triples with 5, stolen bases) and also produced countless highlight-reel catches in center field. He was the lone Bearcat to start all 52 games and currently ranks 38th in the country in triples, 46th in stolen bases and 57th in batting average.
For his career, Bereszniewicz compiled 208 hits – sixth on BU's all-time list. He also totaled 122 runs, 74 RBI and 42 stolen bases (second all-time).
Nevares started 50 games at second base this season and registered team-highs of 35 RBI and 21 extra-base hits. He had an on-base percentage of .412 and hit .352 with 23 RBI in his final 22 collegiate games. He ranked third in the America East in home runs (5) and slugging (.479) and was sixth in both on-base percentage and RBI.
Nevares also put together an eye-popping week in early May with three home runs and 11 RBI in a three-game series. He was recognized as a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week and was highlighted as a "Top Performer" by the NCAA.
In the field, He turned 27 double-plays, helping the Bearcats set a new program standard with a league-leading 41 twin-killings.
In four years, Nevares compiled 200 hits (7th all-time), 46 doubles (4th) and 102 RBI. He started 186 career games, forming one of the finest multi-year middle-infield tandems in school history (with shortstop John Howell).
ABCA All-Region Selections (Division I)
2004 – Jay Balback, 3B (first team)
2005 – Mathieu Bergeron, 3B (second team)
2007 – Matt Simek, 2B (first team)
2009 – Murphy Smith, SP (first team), Corey Taylor, OF (second team)
2010 – Corey Taylor, OF (second team), James Giulietti, SP (second team)
2013 – Jake Thomas, OF (first team)
2014 – Bill Bereszniewicz, OF (second team), Daniel Nevares, 2B (second team)
12 Baseball players ready for summer ball
2014 champion Bearcats spread out across seven different leagues
June 16, 2014Tweet
Contact: John Hartrick (email@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. - Twelve members of Binghamton's 2014 America East championship team will be playing summer ball in leagues spread across the East Coast. Six pitchers, four infielders, a catcher and an outfielder will be continuing their development.
Reed Gamache, Newport Gulls
Jake Thomas, Sanford Mainers
Mike Bunal, Sanford Mainers
David Schanz, Alexandria Aces
Casey Wenzel, Alexandria Aces
Greg Ostner, Woodstock River Bandits
Jake Cryts, Woodstock River Bandits
Kyle Coronel, Adirondack Trailblazers
Tsuyoshi Horibata, Adirondack Trailblazers
Eddie Posavec, Quakertown Blazers
Brendan Skidmore, Wachusett Dirt Dawgs
Nicholas Liegi, Southampton Breakers
Marco working with NSCAA at World Cup
Check out what the BU men's soccer coach has been up to in Brazil
June 16, 2014Tweet
Previous Article Detailing Coach Marco's Involvement at World Cup
Contact: David O'Brian (firstname.lastname@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. – Binghamton University men's soccer coach Paul Marco has been in Brazil for a week covering the World Cup for the National College Soccer Coaches' Association of America (NSCAA). Despite rain for much of the week, it has been a trip of a lifetime for him.
Having been part of the NSCAA national staff for over two decades, Marco was selected to teach a World Cup Diploma course on site. He will be at the US-Ghana match as well as the Spain-Chile game on Wednesday. The first match he covered was last Friday's Mexico-Cameron match. The context of his course will be match analysis.
Here are some updates he has sent since the opening ceremonies started last Thursday.
Day One (Thursday):
"Opening ceremonies and the first match we watched at an open air mall! The place was packed and nearly all were wearing Brazil famous yellow tops."
Day Two (Friday):
"Rain….We went to the Mexico-Cameron game"
Day Three (Saturday)
"More rain…We went on a bus tour of Natal! as the rain was pouring like I have never seen. Barry (a fellow NSCAA Coach) and I gave a presentation in the afternoon."
Day Four (Sunday)
"More rain all morning but stopped in the afternoon watched all three matches. Outstanding games so far. It's been a terrific start to the World Cup."
Day Five (Monday)
"We fly to Rio tomorrow night. Baxter (his stuffed replica of the BU mascot) is excited to get to tomorrow's game and a little nervous about the flight."
Some Other Notes:
Mike Foss of USA Today was with the NSCAA Coaches during the Mexico-Cameroon match. He was friends with one of the coaches and filed this report.
Marco has been staying Laina's Place during his first few nights in Brazil. The owner of Laina's place is Miguel de Lima, a prominent Brazilian soccer player who was once an assistant coach for the New York Cosmos of the old North American Soccer League (NASL). His daughter has been the host for the NSCAA Coaches during their time in Natal! Sunday was Coach Marco's birthday and the staff at Laina's threw him a party.
Volleyball Announces 2014 Campaign
Bearcats begin season against four-time National Champ UCLA on Aug. 29
June 16, 2014Tweet
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VESTAL, N.Y. – Binghamton volleyball head coach Glenn Kiriyama has released the 2014 schedule, and his Bearcats will kick the season off against four-time National Champion UCLA. Binghamton will play its first 19 games on the road, competing in their four yearly preseason tournaments, with just six home contests. The Bearcats look to bounce back in 2014 after missing the postseason for just the second time in the last 10 years.
"We believe the schedule poses several challenges," Kiriyama said. "The preseason schedule is a little light than usual, but there is still a good mixture of elite teams. I believe the conference slate will be more difficult than last year as every team in the league will be much improved."
Binghamton will play 16 games in a 26-day stretch to open the season traveling to Loyola Marymount, Akron, Army and Maryland Eastern Shore for its four preseason tournaments. Kiriyama, who will be entering his 16th season at Binghamton, mixed in the Bearcats' annual matches against Upstate New York rivals Siena (Sept. 9) and Cornell (Sept. 24).
The Bearcats open the 2014 slate on August 29 in Los Angeles, Calif. at the Loyola Marymount Tournament against the Bruins who won National Championships in 1984, 1990, 1991 and 2011. Binghamton then plays a pair of matches the next day against the host Lions and two-time defending Northeast Conference champion LIU Brooklyn. Binghamton will face UCLA and Loyola Marymount for the first time ever as the Bearcats make their first trip to the Golden State since 2006.
"We wanted to start the season with a tough tournament," Kiriyama said. "It will be the most difficult tournament of the preseason where we will see some of the best teams in the country. I believe it will be a good trip for the team and a productive way to start the season."
Kiriyama and the Bearcats return to Akron, Ohio for the Zips Invitational on Sept. 5-6. Binghamton played in the tournament during the 2012 season, a year that ended with the program's third America East title. While in Ohio, Binghamton will face Austin Peay (Tenn.), Bryant (Rhode Island) and Drake (Iowa) as well as the host Zips.
"Akron hosts a great tournament so I thought it would be good for us to go back there," Kiriyama noted. "All the teams in the tournament are about the same level as us so it should be very competitive. I envision us picking up a few wins while were there."
After playing at Siena, the Bearcats make the quick trip down state to West Point for the Army Tournament (Sept. 12-13). Binghamton, who also played in the Army Tournament in 2009, will take on Oakland University (Mich.) and Army on the opening day before closing the tournament with Holy Cross.
"Army has a lot of tradition and a beautiful campus," Kiriyama explained. "I thought it would be a fun place to play for our team and will be a good barometer of where we are as a program."
Binghamton concludes its preseason tournament schedule with a visit to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Sept. 19-20) in Princess Anne, Md. The Bearcats will face the host Hawks, Bethune-Cookman (Fla.) and Campbell University (N.C.) for the first time in program history while also facing Rider University for just the second time.
"This tournament will be a little bit of an unknown for us," Kiriyama stated. "We are going to a place we've never been before and facing three teams we've never played so it should be an interesting weekend. However, we want to be playing at a high level with conference play on the horizon."
The Bearcats will have their final tune-up before league play in Ithaca against Cornell on Sept.24. The past two seasons witnessed matches going the distance with each team winning on the opposition's home court.
Binghamton opens conference play at five-time champion Albany (Sept. 26) before heading to defending champion New Hampshire (Oct. 3) the following weekend. The Bearcats conclude its 19-game road trip with a visit to UMass Lowell (Oct. 5), who begins its second season in the America East in 2014.
The Bearcats finally begin their home schedule on Oct. 10 and Oct. 11 against Hartford and Stony Brook. Binghamton then has eight days off before hosting UMBC over Homecoming Weekend on Oct. 19. The Bearcats conclude their six-game homestand and schedule with the second half of conference play against Albany (Oct. 24), UMass Lowell (Oct. 31) and New Hampshire (Nov.2). Binghamton boasts a record of 50-23 (.685) at West Gym since 2005.
Binghamton closes-out the 2014 season with a brief three-game road trip facing Stony Brook (Nov. 7), Hartford (Nov. 9) and UMBC (Nov. 14). Each game will weigh heavily on the final conference standings and playoff positioning.
"Conference play is always difficult as the intensity is turned up another level," Kiriyama said. "Its eye-opening for the newcomers, but we have a veteran group that will help them assimilate. We will be in a fight throughout league play and will have to be playing our best towards the end of the season."
Women's soccer releases 2014 schedule
Bearcats open at home against Temple on Aug. 22, play four of first five at home
June 13, 2014Tweet
VESTAL, N.Y. – Binghamton women's soccer announced its 2014 schedule on Friday and the Bearcats will open the season with a home game against Temple on August 22.
The 18-game slate includes 10 non-conference games before the traditional eight-game America East portion begins in late September. Seventh-year head coach Sarah McClellan's squad will play nine home games and nine away.
Binghamton begins against Temple, members of the American Athletic Conference, and plays four of its first five games at the Bearcats Sports Complex with the lone away tilt being a Game 2 match at Lehigh on August 24.
"Temple is a high level team and an up-and-coming program," McClellan said. "Facing them in the opener should get us playing on our toes right out of the gate. Lehigh is always a strong, organized team so that first weekend will give us two good challenges to see where we're at early on."
The team will get a heavy dose of the MAAC in 2014, with games scheduled against Manhattan (Aug. 29), Iona (Aug. 31), Siena (Sept. 5), Niagara (Sept. 12) and Canisius (Sept. 14). Two encounters with Patriot League members (Lehigh) and Lafayette (Sept. 7) and one each against teams from the Atlantic-10 (St. Bonaventure on Sept. 19) and the Ivy League (Cornell on Sept. 21) round out the non-league slate.
Siena won 11 games in 2013 and reached the MAAC semifinals and St. Bonaventure advanced to the A-10 semifinals. The game against BU's closest (proximity) rival, Cornell, figures to be a tight, spirited contest.
The Bearcats then have a week off before beginning America East at home against Maine on Sept. 28. Another schedule gap means BU will play just one game in a 13-day span before hosting UMass Lowell on Oct. 5. Binghamton will then finish with four of its final six regular-season games on the road. The Bearcats will then have to make their postseason push on the road as their final two games are at Vermont (Oct. 23) and at defending America East champion UMBC (Oct. 26).
"The America East season will be just as competitive as it's ever been," McClellan said. "Every team has quality players who are highly competitive for a full 90 minutes. It's always exciting come conference time to be able to give your best effort and see what you can prove in terms of where you sit in the standings and to hopefully advance to the postseason.
"We have a really strong group of core returning players and I'm very optimistic about our incoming freshmen and what they're capable of doing and contributing right away. Our fitness, athleticism and depth will be important this year – that's what we believe will be a difference-maker in a lot of our games. All of our games have the potential of being down-to-the-wire games."
The top six teams advance to the America East tournament, which starts with quarterfinals on October 30 and continues with the semifinals (Nov. 2) and championship game (Nov. 8 or 9).
The Bearcats return seven starters and 19 letterwinners from an 8-8-2 team that reached the 2013 America East quarterfinals.
Swimming and Diving Announces End-Of-Year Awards
Bearcats select captains for 2014-15 season
June 12, 2014Tweet
Vestal, NY—At the end of April, the Binghamton University swimming and diving program held their annual end-of-season team banquet. The ceremony featured awards for top performers from the 2013-14 season, as well as the announcement of team captains for the upcoming 2014-15 campaign.
Sean Clark and the coaching staff named both the men's and women's MVP's, most improved swimmers, hard-to-outdo (H2O) candidates and a most valuable and improved diver. All award winners and captains were picked based on a team vote; with the exception of the Coaches' Awards.
Sophomore Eric Farm was selected as the MVP on the men's side after a stellar second season with the Bearcats. Farm won three gold medals at this year's ECAC Championships, including his standout performance in the 100 back in which he collected the second fastest time in school history (49.14). The New City, NY native also swam the first leg of the gold-medal winning 200 and 400 medley relay teams, positioning BU to a runner-up finish in the team's final meet of the season.
For the women, graduating senior Lauren Flower was selected as team MVP. The four-year distance swimmer set a school record in the mile and was Binghamton's third highest scorer at the America East Championships in 2014. Flower won a bronze medal in the mile and was a finalist in the 400 IM at the conference championships. She helped guide the Bearcats to a 4-2 dual meet season in 2013-14 and finished up her career as Binghamton's sixth highest scorer in America East Championship competition.
Freshman Liam Cashin, junior Emelia Carlino and sophomore Stephanie Malyszka all were honored with the most improved swimmer awards. Cashin, who came into the program having never swam in the 200 IM, ended up breaking the freshman school record in the event at the ECAC Championship with a time of 1:51.47. In addition, he also moved into the program's top-10 list in the 200 free
Carlino, a junior from Hopewell Junction, N.Y. saw incredible improvement in 2013-14. She dropped nearly 10 seconds off her 200 breaststroke time and another four seconds in the 100 breast to earn spots in the consolation finals of the America East Championship. Her 100 breast time of 1:07.63 is now eighth all-time in program history. Malyszka jumped to number five all-time in Binghamton history in the 200 breast (2:26.61) and also recorded top-10 program times in both the 200 and 400 IM. After not competing in the conference championships as a freshman, Malyszka stepped up in her second season by collecting the eighth most points on BU's roster at the season-ending meet.
For the third consecutive year, diver Devin Zdanowski was named the most valuable diver of 2013-14. Zdanowski continued his dominance, qualifying for NCAA zones for the second consecutive season. Zdanowski finished first a total of 12 times over the course of his junior season and was named ECAC Diver of the Meet after winning a gold and silver medal at the 15-team event. The most improved diver award went to freshman Bettina Hughes. The Garden City, NY native finished in fifth place on the three-meter board finals at the 2014 America East Championship and was runner-up in three dual meets during her freshman campaign.
The H2O (hard-to-outdo) Coaches' Award was given to a trio of sophomores (Isaac Vingan, Andrew Duszynski and Taryn McLaughlin). The H2O award recognizes individuals who display dedication, determination and total team spirit on a daily basis.
Next year's captains were also chosen at the team's end-of-year banquet. The men's captains are seniors Emmett Jacobi and Devin Zdanowski, while the women selected a trio of seniors in Shannon Lampe (two-time captain), Timea Tozser (two-time captain) and Corinne Zotter.
Men's Most Valuable Performer: Eric Farm, So.
Women's Most Valuable Performer: Lauren Flower, Sr.
Men's Most Improved Swimmer: Liam Cashin, Fr.
Women's Most Improved Swimmer(s): Emelia Carlino, Jr., Stephanie Malyszka, So.
Men's H2O Coaches' Award: Isaac Vingan, So., Andrew Duszynski, So.
Women's H2O Coaches' Award: Taryn McLaughlin, So.
Most Valuable Diver: Devin Zdanowki, Jr.
Most Improved Diver: Bettina Hughes, Fr.
Men: Emmett Jacobi '15, Devin Zdanowski '15
Women: Shannon Lampe '15, Timea Tozser '15, Corinne Zotter '15
Marco heading to World Cup
BU men's soccer coach to work for NSCAA during three matches
June 11, 2014Tweet
Contact: David O'Brian (firstname.lastname@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. – As soccer fans around the globe are getting ready for the World Cup to begin in Brazil, Binghamton head men's soccer coach Paul Marco is also getting set for the event. Unlike most people, Marco won't be watching the World Cup on television. He will be there, working for the National Soccer Coaching Association of America (NSCAA).
Having been part of the NSCAA national staff for over two decades, Marco was selected to teach a World Cup Diploma course on site. He will be at the US-Ghana match next Monday as well as the Mexico-Cameron contest this Friday and the Spain-Chile game next Wednesday. The context of his course will be match analysis.
"This is a once in a lifetime trip," he said. "It is the Super Bowl of soccer but with a four-year buildup. Brazil is one of the most important soccer countries in the world. They have won five World Cups so being in this country makes it all the more special."
Besides his work with the NSCAA, Marco plans on recruiting while he is in Brazil. The Bearcats have a history of recruiting in Brazil, as Danilo, a 2006 graduate, remains one of their most accomplished players. He was a two-time, first-team all-region midfielder and was also a three-time all-conference selection.
Marco has been at the helm of the Binghamton men's soccer program since 2002. During that stretch, the Bearcats have won two America East titles (2003 and 2006), a pair of regular season conference titles (2006 and 2007) and have played in six championship games. They have advanced to the America East Tournament in 10 out of the last 11 seasons.
The 2014 World Cup marks the third time Marco has been at the event. He was in the stands as a fan in 1994, when the World Cup was held in the United States, as well as in 2006, when Germany was the host country.
Murphy and Hinton Attend NCAA Career in Sports Forum
Fifth annual event was held in Indianapolis June 5-8
June 10, 2014Tweet
Career in Sports Forum Website
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VESTAL, N.Y. – Women's basketball forward Morgan Murphy and track & field middle distance runner Shavonna Hinton recently took part in the Fifth Annual NCAA Career in Sports Forum. The event was held June 5-8 in Indianapolis.
Organized and directed by the NCAA Leadership Development department, the Career in Sports Forum was created to provide student-athletes with a broader scope of the career tracks available within the sports business, with the primary focus on intercollegiate athletics. The forum provides student-athletes interactive experiences with successful individuals in sports business and a peek into their day-to-day duties and responsibilities.
During the forum, participants heard from keynote speakers and panelists – including former University of Tennessee women's athletics director emeritus Joan Cronan, Rice University athletics director Joe Karlgaard and WISH-TV Indianapolis sports anchor Anthony Calhoun – and also learned best practices for gaining employment and gathering a better understanding of what future expectations will be once they get a job.
Murphy and Hinton were among 200 current student-athletes selected from over 1,100 applicants. Being a part of the program left a lasting impact on both of them.
"For me attending the Career in Sports Forum was an opportunity to develop my professional self," Hinton said. "This forum opened my eyes to a whole new side of collegiate athletics and exposed me to many career options at university and national level as well as outside of college. I have a new found appreciation for just what it takes to run a successful athletic program and the NCAA at large."
"The NCAA Career in Sports Forum was an incredible experience that I'll never forget," Murphy said. "The other student-athletes and I had the privilege of exploring some of the different job opportunities out there within the NCAA and professional sports. We also discussed the importance of networking, applying your personal values to your career, and making sacrifices while serving others. We also had the chance to meet and listen to many successful professionals speak on these issues."
Men's soccer releases 2014 schedule
Bearcats open at Bucknell August 29, play 10 home games
June 10, 2014Tweet
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VESTAL, N.Y.—The Binghamton men's soccer program has announced its 2014 schedule and the Bearcats kickoff the season at Bucknell on August 29. The 18-game regular-season slate includes 10 home games, the most since Binghamton moved up to the NCAA Division I level in 2001.
"We have put together a great schedule," head coach Paul Marco said. "We have more home games than road games. We play three Ivy League teams and two Patriot League opponents. Our non-conference schedule will help us be ready for the America East games later in the season."
Binghamton opens up its home schedule on Labor Day (September 1) against Marist at 5 p.m. Other non-conference home games come against Army (Sept. 10), Cornell (Sept. 13), Lafayette (Sept. 20), Syracuse (Sept. 23) and Columbia (Oct. 22).
On the road, the Bearcats head to the Duquesne Tournament, where they will face the host Dukes (Sept. 5) and Niagara (Sept. 7). Other road games come against first-time opponent Princeton (Sept. 27) and Hofstra (Sept. 30).
America East Conference play opens up with a pair of home contests. Hartford comes to the Bearcats Sports Complex on Oct. 4 followed by New Hampshire on Oct. 11. Binghamton also hosts Stony Brook on Nov. 1.
This year's Homecoming Game is scheduled for Oct. 18 against Vermont at 6 p.m. Since 2007, the Bearcats have averaged 2,183 fans to their annual Homecoming Game, including a pair of sellouts. This marks the fourth time in seven years that the Catamounts will be the opponent.
Conference road games come against defending America East champion UMBC on Oct. 15, UMass Lowell on Oct. 25 and Albany Nov. 25.
The America East Tournament starts with the quarterfinal round on Nov. 8. The semifinals follow on Nov. 12 and the finals are on Nov. 15.
Clark Steps Aside As Head Coach Of Swimming & Diving Program
Eight-year head coach will not return for 2014-15 campaign
June 9, 2014Tweet
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Vestal, N.Y.—After serving 10 years as an assistant and then head coach with the Binghamton men's & women's swimming and diving program, Sean Clark has decided to step away from his head coaching position with the Bearcats. Clark, a native of Massachusetts, spent a successful decade with the Bearcats, a tenure that included eight years at the helm.
"It has been a tremendous pleasure for me to grow with the swimming and diving program here at Binghamton for the past decade," Clark explained. "We have made a deep impact on the culture of our sport here, and I am so very proud to have been a part of it. I could not have had better people to work with in building amazing student-athletes. Although it is time for me to move on, I will treasure my experiences here. I know how blessed I've been to coach such remarkable swimmers and divers."
Clark brought his excitement and enthusiasm to the program beginning as an assistant in 2004 and was later promoted to head coach during the start of the 2006-07 season. A three-time America East Coach of the Year (Men: 2007 & 2010, Women: 2011), he guided the men's team to a pair of America East runner-up trophies and an overall dual meet record of 34-36 (.486). On the women's side, Clark propelled the Bearcats to three winning seasons and helped BU finish in the top-5 at the America East Championships on three different occasions.
Since 2005, the BU men's program has produced 53 America East gold medals and 51 all-conference selections. In addition, the Bearcats have claimed four Most Outstanding Swimmer awards under Clark's watch. In 2007, Clark sent the first Binghamton male swimmer to the NCAA championship when David Holmes qualified in the 200 free, the 500 free and 200 fly.
During his time at Binghamton, he helped transform the women's program into a strong competitor in the Northeast. Most recently in 2014, BU had eight different swimmers earn all-conference honors at the America East Championships, including Caitlin Kelly who swept both sprint events (50 & 100 free). Kelly became the first women's swimmer since 2005 to accomplish the feat. In total, the Bearcats have climbed atop the America East podium seven times and have accumulated 18 all-conference picks since 2006-07.
In the classroom, Binghamton swimmers and divers have excelled with Clark at the helm. From 2006-11 both the men and women's programs were honored by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) with Scholar All-America team accolades. A combined 26 student-athletes have garnered All-Academic nods since 2006 and a total of five men's swimmers have been chosen as the top Scholar-Athlete in the sport by the America East conference.
A national search for Clark's replacement will begin immediately.
Baseball player Bereszniewicz drafted by Dodgers in 28th round
Center fielder led America East in hitting, stolen bases, is ninth BU player to be drafted
June 7, 2014Tweet
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VESTAL, N.Y. – Binghamton center fielder Bill Bereszniewicz was picked by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 28th-round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Saturday.
Bereszniewicz, a first-team all-conference player who led the America East in hitting (.367) and stolen bases (23), is the ninth Binghamton player to be drafted since 1990 and the third in the last three years. He is BU's earliest field position player to be taken since catcher Dan Gray went to the Dodgers in the seventh round of the 1990 draft.
"I'm thrilled for Billy ... nobody has worked harder for this opportunity," head coach Tim Sinicki said. "There is no doubt in my mind he'll make the most of it. He turned himself into a dynamic player on both sides of the ball and was without question our most valuable player this spring."
Bereszniewicz is fresh off a season that saw the Sudbury, Mass. native captain the Bearcats to their second consecutive America East crown and NCAA Regional appearance. He hit .401 over the last two months of the season and set the school single-season record with 77 hits. Bereszniewicz led the conference in four offensive categories (average, hits, triples with 5, stolen bases) and also produced countless highlight-reel catches in center field. He was the lone Bearcat to start all 52 games and currently ranks 38th in the country in triples, 46th in stolen bases and 57th in batting average.
He had two double-digit hit streaks (15 and 10) and after Feb. 15, didn't go more than one game in a row without recording a hit. Bereszniewicz posted 24 multi-hit games, including 10 games with three or more hits. In his final collegiate games, he went 5-for-10 against No. 7 Oklahoma State and No. 19 Nebraska at the NCAA Stillwater Regional.
For his career, Bereszniewicz compiled 208 hits – sixth on BU's all-time list. He also totaled 122 runs, 74 RBI and 42 stolen bases (second all-time).
Binghamton MLB Draft Picks
1990 – Dan Gray, C (Los Angeles Dodgers, 7th Round), Dirk Gorman, OF (Los Angeles Dodgers, 48th Round)
2001 – Jeff Montani, RHP (Baltimore Orioles, 37th Round)
2008 – Jeff Dennis, LHP (Oakland Athletics, 40th Round)
2009 – Murphy Smith, RHP (Oakland Athletics, 13th Round)
2010 – Henry Dunn, OF (Cleveland Indians, 50th Round)
2012 – Mike Augliera, RHP (Boston Red Sox, 5th Round), Lee Sosa, RHP (Oakland Athletics, 26th Round)
2014 – Bill Bereszniewicz, OF (Los Angeles Dodgers,28th Round)
Kiriyama Adds Four To Volleyball Program
Bearcats reload with three state champions for the 2014 season
June 5, 2014Tweet
Contact: Terrence Lollie (firstname.lastname@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. – Binghamton volleyball coach Glenn Kiriyama has announced the addition of four student-athletes, who will join his program for the 2014 season. The Bearcats, who lost just three seniors last November, will return five starters to the fold next fall. However, two of those seniors are four-year libero Xiomara Ortiz and three-year captain Grace Vickers.
Kiriyama, a three-time America East Coach of the Year, will have to fill the large voids in his rotation left by Ortiz and Vickers and hopes to do so with a solid core of returners and incoming freshmen Mirei Kato (Riverside, Conn.), Alexis LaGoy (Baldwinsville, N.Y.), Kristella Morina (Yonkers, N.Y.) and Sarah Ngo (Franklin, Tenn.).
"We are excited for this recruiting class to begin their careers with the Bearcats' program," Kiriyama said. "Their overall experience and athleticism will enable them to immediately contribute to our success this coming season. Each of them fills a specific need of the team and will bolster a strong group of returners."
Mirei Kato (Setter/Defensive Specialist) won four letters while attending Greenwich High where she led her school to it's first-ever Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) Class LL State Championship in 2010. Kato, a 5-foot-8 setter, led Greenwich to the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference (FCIAC) title in 2013 while being named league MVP and earning first-team All-State honors. The two-time team captain and MVP earned FCIAC athletic achievement awards in 2012 and 2013.
Alexis LaGoy (Outside Hitter) earned four letters at Baldwinsville High School leading her team to a dominant 50-3-1 record. The day before signing her National Letter of Intent to play for Binghamton, LaGoy led Baldwinsville to its second New York State Class AA title in four years. LaGoy was named the tournament MVP after leading the Bees to a perfect 18-0 record. A two-time Class AA first-team all-state selection, LaGoy was the CNY Player of the Year in 2012 and named the Section III Finals MVP in 2012 and 2013.
Kristella Morina (Middle), a four-year starter at Yonkers High, was a three-time all-league selection. During her senior season, Morina registered a team-high 214 kills leading her team to a perfect 11-0 league record, earning the Conference II Player of the Year award. Morina was also named to the all-section and all-country teams following her final high school season. A National and Spanish Honor Society student, Morina stellar player earned her five all-tournament team honors in 2013.
Sarah Ngo (Setter) won a letter at Ravenwood High before earning three more at Centennial High, both outside Nashville, Tenn. A 5-foot-8 setter, Ngo was a three-time all-district selection from 2011-2013. During her lone year at Ravenwood, Ngo won a Class AAA state title in 2010, the first of three straight for the Raptors. In 2012, Ngo helped beat her former team with 15 assists to win the Ironman Invitational in Huntsville, Ala. Ngo is a member of the National Honor Society and won an academic excellence award four consecutive years from 2011-2014.
Binghamton finished the 2013 season with a 9-19 overall record and a 7-7 mark in America East play placing fifth in the final league standings. The Bearcats missed the America East tournament for just the second time in the last 10 years after winning their third conference title in 2012.
Men's tennis pair nationally-ranked
Top doubles tandem of Maisin and Nambi earn final ITA ranking of No. 83
June 4, 2014Tweet
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VESTAL, N.Y.—Binghamton men's tennis doubles tandem Alexander Maisin and Aswin Nambi has earned a final ITA national ranking of No. 83 - the first time in BU's Division I tenure that a doubles pair has been ranked at year's end.
Maisin, a sophomore, and Nambi, a junior, were also ranked 10th in the Northeast. Their signature win was an 8-5 triumph over 32nd-ranked Jones and Heugas of VCU on February 28. That top duo from VCU advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship.
Maisin and Nambi won 11 matches together in the spring, including victories in BU's matches against No. 51 Central Florida, No. 58 Penn State, Penn and Buffalo.
After yet another championship season, the men's tennis team earned a return position among the top-10 teams in the Northeast. The Bearcats were ranked No. 10 - the sixth consecutive season BU has been among the elite teams in the region. Binghamton (16-11) won five of its last six matches en route to a seventh straight America East championship. The title was the program's 10th in 13 years of America East membership. During the seven-year run under head coach Adam Cohen, BU surrendered just six team points in 14 tournament matches.
The Bearcats will return four starting singles players as they make their debut in the Mid-American Conference in 2014-15.
The Bearcats in the Northeast Region
Year - Rank
2009 - 8th
2010 - 2nd
2011 - 8th
2012 - 10th
2013 - 9th
2014 - 10th
Softball ranked nationally in stolen bases and triples
Bump, Harbaugh and Chaffee also ranked in individual statistics
June 4, 2014Tweet
Contact: David O'Brian (firstname.lastname@example.com)
VESTAL, N.Y. – With the 2014 softball season having just concluded, the NCAA has released its final Division I statistics. Binghamton finished the year ranked second overall with 2.55 stolen bases per game and No. 16 with 0.30 triples per game. There were 289 NCAA Division I softball programs that competed in 2014.
Individually, senior second baseman Jessica Bump ranked No. 10 with 0.72 stolen bases per game while sophomore Sydney Harbaugh was No. 16 (0.68). Bump's 34 stolen bases this season also set the Binghamton program record while Harbaugh had the second-highest mark with 30 thefts.
"We put an emphasis on bringing in speed through our recruiting the last couple of years and it has helped us be more aggressive on the bases," head coach Michelle Burrell said. "We also spent a lot of time working on our leads and base running so that we would be able to take advantage of the speed that we had this year."
Harbaugh, who was the America East Player of the Year, was also No. 42 with 0.09 triples per game. Sophomore catcher Taylor Chaffee, meanwhile, was No. 30 with four sacrifice flies.
NOTES: Louisiana-Monroe was first among all NCAA Division I schools with 2.63 stolen bases per game.
Four men's tennis players earn All-Academic honors
Dinia, Lesage, Maisin and van Kann occupy four of the six spots on the America East team
June 2, 2014Tweet
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VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton men's tennis put four players on the America East Men's Tennis All-Academic Team, occupying two-thirds of the team. Earning academic recognition were senior Florian van Kann, juniors Ismael Dinia and Robin Lesage and sophomore Alexander Maisin.
van Kann earned the honor for the second straight year. He graduated with a stellar 3.96 grade-point average in management finance. He also was a second team all-conference singles selection.
Dinia also was named to the team for a second consecutive year. He carries a 3.62 GPA in management finance and was a first-team all-conference choice.
Lesage also earned repeat honors, thanks to his lofty 3.92 GPA in management and marketing. Lesage also was a first-team all-conference singles player.
Maisin recorded a 3.79 GPA in system science & industrial engineering and was a first-team all-conference recipient in both singles and doubles.
Under head coach Adam Cohen, the Bearcats have produced 24 All-Academic honorees since 2006 - including a conference-best four in each of the last two years. On the court, BU completed its tenure in the America East with seven straight championships and 10 in the program's 13 years of membership. The Bearcats will compete in the Mid-American Conference beginning in the fall and will be eligible for that league's automatic NCAA tournament berth in the spring.
Women's Basketball Completes Coaching Staff
Leflar named associate head coach, Northup-Jones and Truncale tabbed as assistants
June 2, 2014Tweet
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VESTAL, N.Y. – Binghamton head women's basketball coach Linda Cimino, who was hired in April, has announced her coaching staff for the upcoming season. Mike Leflar has been named the associate head coach and Torey Northup-Jones has been named as assistant coach. In addition, Leah Truncale, who has been an assistant coach for the Bearcats since 2009, will remain on the staff.
"I am very excited to announce the hiring of my first staff at Binghamton," Cimino said. "This is an important hire and I am fortunate to bring in top-notch coaches and people."
Leflar (pronounced LEF-ler) arrives from Boston University, where he was an assistant coach from 2004-12 and the associate head coach the past two seasons. During that span, the Terriers went 186-127 and captured a pair of America East regular-season titles. In addition, the Terriers advanced to five conference championship games and earned a pair of WNIT berths.
A 2002 graduate of Boston College, Leflar was an assistant coach at Penn during the 2003-04 campaign. The Quakers won the Ivy League title that season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
"Mike is the perfect hire," Cimino said. "He knows the landscape of the America East and has a great reputation. He will head our recruiting efforts and can recruit in the Northeast better than anyone I know."
Northup-Jones, meanwhile, comes from St. John's, where she was the graduate assistant coach during the 2013-14 season. The Red Storm finished 23-11 and advanced to the BIG East championship game. It culminated the year with an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
A 2013 graduate of Caldwell College, Northup-Jones played under Cimino, who was the head coach of the Cougars from 2006-14. She finished her career with 1,850 points and was a three-time all-conference and All-Met selection.
"Torey was a tremendous player at Caldwell and understands my system," Cimino said. "She had a great experience working at St. John's for a program that went to the NCAA Tournament. She will work primarily with our guards and will head our scouting."
Truncale, meanwhile, has been an assistant coach since the 2009-10 season. She is a 2002 graduate of Binghamton and a member of the BU Athletic Hall of Fame. Truncale remains the program's all-time leader in rebounds (978) and blocked shots (236) and finished her career with 1,341 points.
"Leah's passion and commitment to Binghamton is unmatched," Cimino said. "She knows the America East very well and will work with our post players."
Binghamton University – Mike Leflar named associate head coach and Torey Northrup-Jones named assistant coach.
Women's soccer to host High School Prep Camp
Training clinic will run from from 5-7 p.m. July 29-31 at Bearcats Sports Complex
June 2, 2014Tweet
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VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton women's soccer will host its Girls High School Prep Camp from July 29-31 at the Bearcats Sports Complex. The clinic, open to all players 9th grade and up, will run from 5-7 p.m. each night. Cost is $75 per person.
The camp is designed to train players in preparation for their upcoming high school season. Players will be trained in speed, agility, footwork, technical sharpness, as well as small and large possession activities. The camps is open for high school coaches as well, to come and learn exercises used in the training of Binghamton University's women's soccer players.
Head coach Sarah McClellan will be joined by assistant coaches Kristie Bowers and Amy Rossi.
To register, call 607-777-BTIX (2849) or visit online at bubearcats.com/tickets
Contact Kristie Bowers with questions at 607-777-6185 or email at firstname.lastname@example.com
Track & Field Ends Season at NCAA East Regional Meet
Miceli 37th in men's pole vault, Platel 38th in men's hammer
May 31, 2014Tweet
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Sophomore Joe Miceli was 37th in the men's pole vault and graduate student Jacob Platel was 38th in the men's hammer, highlighting Binghamton's performance at the NCAA East Regional Outdoor Track & Field Meet, which concluded on Saturday at North Florida. There was no team scoring in the meet which marked the Bearcats' final competition of the season.
Miceli was seeded No. 48 heading into the meet but his height of 15-11 ¾ vaulted him nine spots higher than his projected placement. Platel, meanwhile, held on to his No. 38 seed with a distance of 187-4.
Both Platel and Miceli were first-time entrants in the NCAA East Regional Meet.
Since 2004, Binghamton has had 29 men's qualifiers for the NCAA Outdoor Regional Meet and eight women's selections. From that meet, Rory Quiller advanced to the 2006 and 2007 NCAA Championships while Erik van Ingen went in 2011 and 2012.
Baseball season ends with 8-6 loss to No. 19 Nebraska
Bearcats rally from four down to take lead into 9th inning, show grit in championship season
May 31, 2014Tweet
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STILLWATER, Okla. - Binghamton rallied from a 4-0 hole and came within two outs of a stunning upset before 19th-ranked Nebraska scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to knock the Bearcats out of the NCAA Regional, 8-6, Saturday afternoon from Reynolds Stadium.
Less than a week after being on the winning side of a dramatic late-inning rally, BU suffered the flip-side when the Huskers sent nine men to the plate in their final at-bat and used a walk, flare single to shallow right and a squeeze bunt to score the decisive runs. Still showing no quit, BU brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth before Nebraska's first baseman dug out a throw in the dirt to record the final out of the game.
In just his second start of the season, junior Greg Ostner (L, 3-2) pitched a noteworthy game, settling down after four early Nebraska runs to throw 8.1 strong innings. After the second inning, Ostner allowed just five hits the rest of the way, putting up five scoreless frames before the ninth.
Playing 12 hours after the team's Friday night shutout loss to No. 7 Oklahoma State and playing without its leading RBI man and clean-up hitter (Jake Thomas), BU struggled out of the gate and the Big Ten runnerup Huskers scored three runs in the first and another in the second to jump ahead 4-0. But BU rallied with three runs in the fourth and after Nebraska got one back in the fifth, the Bearcats answered with three runs in the sixth to take a 6-5 lead. But after a fly out to open the ninth brought BU to within two outs of a huge victory, Nebraska instead ended BU's championship season in heartbreaking fashion. Ostner allowed his only walk of the game and then a harmless opposite-field flare found turf between senior second baseman Daniel Nevares and junior right fielder Zach Blanden. With runners on first and third, junior Mike Bunal relieved Ostner and got a ground ball but the golfed shot bounced in front of the plate and caromed all the way over Nevares' head at second for an RBI single to tie the game at 6-6. With runners on first and third, the Huskers then executed a perfect safety squeeze to take the lead 7-6. Another RBI single with two outs completed the scoring.
In the bottom of the ninth, Nevares produced an infield single to bring the tying run to the plate in the form of power hitter and senior first baseman Shaun McGraw. But Nebraska got a groundout to third to seal the win.
"Obviously, the end of the season is a difficult time, for not only me as a coach but for all the players," 22nd-year head coach Tim Sinicki said. "I'm extremely proud of the way we competed today. We got down early and found a way to not only get back in it, but take a lead into the ninth inning. Programs like Nebraska and some of the bigger ones in the country have players that find ways to get things done, and that's what happened in the end today. Not to be overshadowed is the run that this program has been on for the last nine or 10 days, beginning with the America East championship and the run we made there and coming in here. I thought the effort today was outstanding."
In the three-run fourth inning, BU put together four hits, beginning with a leadoff single by senior center fielder Bill Bereszniewicz. Nevares followed with a double just inside the third base bag. McGraw stroked an RBI single to left to get BU on the board and sophomore third baseman Reed Gamache made it 4-2 with a sacrifice fly to the corner in left. After a Nebraska pitching change and a four-pitch walk to freshman DH Brendan Skidmore, the Huskers foiled a squeeze bunt play with a putout at home. but freshman left fielder Darian Herncane, playing in place of the injured Thomas, dropped in an RBI double to right center, scoring Skidmore and cutting the Bearcats' deficit to 4-3.
After Nebraska used a triple and sacrifice fly to push its lead to 5-3 in the fifth, BU countered with three runs to take the lead in the sixth. Gamache drew a leadoff walk - the third straight inning BU put its leadoff hitter on - and Skidmore singled through the left side. Senior shortstop John Howell put down a sacrifice fly and the Nebraska pitching fielded and attempted to throw out Gamache at third but his throw sailed into right field, plating BU's fourth run. After a perfect sacrifice bunt by Herncane, freshman catcher Eddie Posavec tied the game with an RBI groundout. After a walk to Blanden and another Husker pitching change, Bereszniewicz greeted Nebraska's fourth pitcher by lining a 1-1 pitch through the left side for a single, plating Skidmore with the go-ahead run.
Ostner, meanwhile, retired eight in a row. Nebraska threatened with a two-out double in the eighth inning but on Ostner's 98th pitch of the game, he got a fly to right field to escape unscathed.
Bereszniewicz went 3-for-5 with an RBI and Nevares and Skidmore had two hits apiece.
Nebraska outhit BU 14-10 and each team committed an error.
It was the final game for BU's four starting seniors (Howell, Nevares, McGraw, Bereszniewicz), who became the first players in program history to lead the program to back-to-back America East titles and the accompanying two NCAA Regional appearances. The championship season was especially remarkable given the injuries that decimated BU's lineup. Three starting field position players (a 4th vs. Nebraska with Thomas' injury) lost significant time with injuries and the pitching staff entered the NCAA Regional minus its ace (Jack Rogalla) and four other pitchers.
Baseball loses to No. 7 Oklahoma State 8-0 in NCAA opener
Bearcats play No. 19 Nebraska in elimination game at 1 p.m. on Saturday
May 29, 2014Tweet
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STILLWATER, Okla. – Binghamton baseball put pressure on seventh-ranked Oklahoma State early in the game but couldn't produce the big hit and the host Cowboys pulled away for an 8-0 win in BU's opening game of the NCAA Regional Friday night at Reynolds Stadium. The game was broadcast on ESPN3.
Binghamton will now play No. 19 Nebraska in an elimination game at 1 p.m. (ET) on Saturday. OSU faces Cal State Fullerton in a winner's bracket game at 8 p.m.
The fourth-seeded Bearcats put runners on base in five straight innings but left the bases loaded in the third and fifth innings and left nine stuck in the first six innings, including seven in scoring position.
Oklahoma State snapped a scoreless tie with two runs in the third inning. The Cowboys then added two runs in the fifth, two in the sixth and two in the eighth.
The Bearcats had their first big threat in the third inning. Senior shortstop John Howell led off with a single and with one out, junior right fielder Zach Blanden singled. After a strikeout, senior second baseman Daniel Nevares walked to load the bases before another OSU strikeout snuffed out the bases-loaded opportunity. In the bottom of the frame, the Cowboys used two hits, a walk and two wild pitches to forge ahead.
With BU down 2-0, freshman Nicholas Liegi entered with runners on second and third and closed the door with a big strikeout on a 3-2 pitch. Liegi, who relieved starter Jake Cryts (L, 5-6) with two outs in the third, stranded another in scoring position in the fourth and went 2.2 innings before giving way to junior Anthony Grillini, who pitched the final 2.2 innings.
Binghamton mounted another scoring threat with two outs in the fifth but came up one hit short. With two outs, senior center fielder Bill Bereszniewicz legged out an infield single, Nevares singled through the left side and junior left fielder Jake Thomas was hit-by-pitch to load the bases. That chased OSU starter Tyler Buffett but the Cowboys called on a reliever (Vince Wheeland) who was 9-0 with a 1.49 ERA. An ensuing dangerous slow grounder to third off the bat of senior Shaun McGraw was barehanded and the resulting bang-bang play at first just beat out McGraw to end the frame.
OSU used two hits, two walks and a sacrifice fly to plate two more runs in the home half of the fifth. The Cowboys then hit a leadoff home run and added an unearned run on two infield misplays in the sixth inning.
Binghamton was only sent down in order once in nine innings (1st inn.) and was outhit by a slight 10-8 margin.
Six different Bearcats had a hit in the game, including Blanden and Bereszniewicz, who each went 2-for-5. Five Oklahoma State pitchers compiled 13 strikeouts.
Binghamton did produce three spectacular fielding plays that warranted consideration for ESPN's Sports Center Top 10 Plays. The first occurred in the opening inning when the senior tandem of Nevares and Howell turned its 69th career double play. With runners on first and second and one out, Nevares soared to snag a hard liner and then flipped to Howell at the bag to double off the OSU runner. One inning later with a runner at third, Thomas tracked a ball to the wall and leaped to deny a possible two-run home run. Bereszniewicz provided his own highlight-reel catch in the sixth when he covered a vast amount of grass and extended on a full dive to make a great catch in shallow right center.
The game was delayed more than hour due to rain and then lightening in the area… it was the first time in six NCAA games that BU was held without a run.
BBAA hosts 25th annual golf tournament
Over 200 individuals and 40 organizations took part in event
May 29, 2014Tweet
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VESTAL, N.Y.—The Binghamton Bearcats Athletic Association (BBAA) hosted its 25th annual golf tournament at the Links at Hiawatha Landing on Thursday. The goal of the event was to raise money for the general scholarship fund and over 200 individuals took part in the event.
The support was just as solid in terms of corporate partners, with over 40 organizations sponsoring the event. The major sponsors included Andrew R. Mancini & Associates, Sodexo, Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LeChase Construction, Wells Fargo Advisors, Clark Patterson Lee and BSN Sports.
"The Bearcats Golf Classic is always a great time to see all of our friends and supporters, many of them having played in the majority of the past 25 Athletic golf tournaments," Assistant Athletic Director Bette Ann Gaube said. "The fact that proceeds directly benefit our Binghamton University student-athletes makes this a special and meaningful day."
In the morning session, which had a Captain and Crew format, the winning score of 57 was turned in by the team of Tom Hackett, Zach Majka, Garrett Feduke and Andy Hutchings. The afternoon session had a Texas Scramble format and the winner with a score of 103 was the team of Tom Gaube, Jerry Gaube, Bette Anne Gaube and Mike Majewski
Founded in 1991, the BBAA is the philanthropic support group made up of alumni, parents, friends, community members, teams, coaches and students who have a deep interest in Binghamton University and its Athletics program. Binghamton University has long been proud of its student-athletes and their many accomplishments – whether they were competing as Colonials or as Bearcats.
The BBAA allows the Athletics Department to provide scholarships to student-athletes, state-of-the-art training equipment, facility and equipment enhancements and funding for the Student-Athlete Success Center that supports our student-athletes' academic pursuits.
TOP MORNING RESULTS (Captain and Crew Format)
1st Place – Score of 57 tiebreaker winner with eagle on #12
Tom Hackett, Zach Majka, Garrett Feduke, Andy Hutchings
2nd Place – Score of 57
Al Kenderes, Gary Hmurcik, Mike Karl, Ron Markoff
3rd Place - Score of 60
Paul Marco, Nic Rossi, John Taylor, Steve Axtell
TOP AFTERNOON RESULTS (Texas Scramble Format)
1st Place - Score of 103
Tom Gaube, Jerry Gaube, Bette Anne Gaube and Mike Majewski
2nd Place - Score of 104
Jeff Loew, Larry Schorr, Glenn Small, Terry Wood
3rd Place - Score of 104
Jason Mirabito, Jeff Mirabito, Justin Fisher, Matt Meehan
Klein and Miceli named to AE Track All-Academic Teams
Bearcat duo earned all-conference honors during recent season
May 28, 2014Tweet
America East Conference Release
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VESTAL, N.Y. – Senior sprinter Kathleen Klein and sophomore pole vaulter Joe Miceli have been named to the 2014 America East Outdoor Track All-Academic Team. It marks each of their first selections to the squad, which was based on both their athletic and academic accomplishments.
At the America East Outdoor Track Championships May 2-3, Klein was sixth in the 400 and was part of the first-place 4x100 team. In addition, she ran on the 4x400 relay team which finished second overall. In the classroom, Klein graduated with a 3.89 GPA in graphic design and was a member of the National College Athlete Honors Society. She was the team captain of a Bearcat squad that was the runner up at the conference indoor meet and placed third at the outdoor championships.
Miceli, meanwhile, was second in the decathlon and fourth in the pole vault at the America East Outdoor Champioships. In addition, he qualified for the NCAA East Regional Championships in the pole vault. He carries a 3.61 GPA in integrative neuroscience and is also a member of the National College Athlete Honor Society.
The America East Outdoor Track All-Academic teams have 10 members for each gender, except in the event of a tie, and are voted on by a committee of Sports Information Directors, Academic Advisors and Faculty Athletic Representatives. Each nominee must meet the set standards of a cumulative 3.30 or better GPA, have been a starter or significant reserve this past year and participated in at least 50 percent of the teams meets in 2014.
Since its inception in 2006, the BU men's team has posted 14 selection to the America East Outdoor Track All-Academic Team while the Bearcat women have had 13 honorees.
Miceli and graduate student Jacob Platel compete at the NCAA East Regional Meet, which begins on Thursday at North Florida.
Total Transformation
Once a standout pole vaulter, Platel heads to East Regional Meet as a top-notch thrower
May 28, 2014Tweet
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Three year's ago, Jacob Platel's career as a Binghamton student-athlete appeared to be over. He had arrived from Delmar (N.Y.) in 2009 as a state champion pole vaulter at Bethlehem High School. As a freshman, he placed at both the America East Indoor and Outdoor Championships. The following year, however, he was hampered by strength and weight issues that kept in from excelling in his event. In December 2011, he quit the team.
"The end of my sophomore year was a turbulent time athletically," he said. "I had been plagued with strength and weight increase that prevented me from maintaining the foot speed and gymnastic ability that I needed to be a competitive Division 1 pole vaulter. Before winter break my junior year, I decided it was a time to call it a career. It didn't matter how much training, running or dieting I did. I just wasn't physically built for this event anymore."
It is against that backdrop that Platel's current status should be measured. This coming weekend, he is competing for that same Binghamton track & field program at the NCAA East Regional Meet. Instead of the pole vault, he will take part in the hammer throw, an event in which he is ranked No. 38 in the entire Eastern half of the country. Simply put, Platel has come a long way from where he was nearly three years ago.
After quitting the team in 2011, Platel had trouble adjusting to life after being a student-athlete. Despite his sophomore year struggles, there was still much he missed about being a part of the Binghamton track program.
"It was extremely difficult to go from training five days a week to having no athletic obligations in the blink of an eye," he said. "It wasn't long until I realized I was extremely bored and missed track and field."
Although he was no longer on the team, Platel still lived with two throwers who were. It was then that he wondered how he would fare if he tried the throwing events as opposed to the pole vault.
"The hammer throw always intrigued me and it just so happened I was living with two throwers that were still competing for BU," he said. "I asked one of them (Greg Feathers) to teach me how to throw. After a few days of playing around with that event, I realized I had some aptitude for it."
By the end of the 2011-12 academic year, Platel was determined to rejoin the team and compete in the throws. He approached head coach Mike Thompson and asked for a tryout in September 2012. After throwing 160 feet at that try out, Platel was awarded a spot back on the team.
"He did very well right away in the hammer throw," Thompson said. "He taught himself for the most part until he started working with the team the following year."
The transition to being a thrower on the team was seamless for Platel. He earned all-conference honors at the 2013 America East Indoor and Outdoor Championships. In the process, he surpassed even his own expectations for his first year back with the program.
"During the beginning of my first season training as a thrower for BU, my strength increased dramatically due to being put on the throwers' lifting program," he said. "My weight increased and I felt more athletic than I ever had. It sounds kind of funny, but was more athletic as a 240 lb thrower than I was as a 185 lb pole vaulter."
Heading into the 2013-14 campaign, Platel's goals were dramatically different that the previous season.
"After my first year back, my goals changed from being just a weight and hammer thrower to being an IC4A and regional qualifier," he said. "Because of the confidence in my ability, I actively pursued those goals for the remainder of my collegiate athletic career."
This past month, both of those goals were realized. Platel qualified for the IC4A Championships (which were held May 18-19) and was sixth overall in the hammer. More importantly, his distance of 197-8 demolished his own school record by over seven feet and clinched a spot at this weekend's NCAA East Regional Meet.
Platel's record-breaking throw at the IC4A meet came on his final attempt. Had it been an ordinary throw, he would have ended his career and missed out on going to regionals. Instead, the person who quit the Binghamton track nearly three years earlier delivered the throw of his life.
"On what I assumed was the last throw of my last meet of my athletic career at Binghamton University, I had shattered my personal record, the school record and qualified for the East Regional meet," he said. "I couldn't have asked for anything better than that."
Thompson is no stranger to successful athletes at Binghamton. He has coached national champions on all three NCAA Division levels during his 19 years at the helm of the program. But he has never seen a career transform like Platel's.
"I can't imagine any other college athlete placing in their conference meet in the pole vault and hammer throw," he said. "A good decathlete could possibly do it in the pole vault and javelin, discus or shot put because they consistently work on those events, but I have never heard of anyone excelling in the vault and hammer."
Platel has already graduated with his degree in environmental studies. He plans on eventually working outdoors in a career suited for his major. As he looks back during his time at Binghamton, however, he is extremely grateful for the role the track program he played in his collegiate career.
"I don't think I would have succeeded as a thrower in any other program, mainly because any coaching staff other than ours would have laughed at the idea of a pole vaulter being a hammer thrower and probably wouldn't have even granted me the try out," he said. "For what they have allowed me to do, I will always be grateful."
Baseball headed to Stillwater, Okla. for NCAA Regional
Bearcats draw No. 10 Oklahoma State in opener; Cal St. Fullerton and Nebraska also at regional
May 26, 2014Tweet
America East Championship recap
Stillwater Regional ticket information
Photo Gallery from Selection Show gathering
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VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton baseball is headed to Stillwater, Okla. for the NCAA Regionals. The two-time reigning America East champion Bearcats (25-25) learned their placement in the bracket as the team gathered Sunday in the Events Center to watch the NCAA Selection Show, televised live on ESPNU. Binghamton will open against 10th-ranked and host Oklahoma State (45-16) in the four-team regional, which begins on Friday at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium. Second-seeded Cal State Fullerton (32-22) and third-seeded Nebraska (40-19) are the other two teams at the regional and will square off in the opening game at 1 p.m. (ET). Binghamton then faces Oklahoma State at 7 p.m. (ET) and will be shown on ESPN3. The double-elimination format continues on Saturday and Sunday.
"It's a loaded regional and will be a great for challenge for us," 22nd-year head coach Tim Sinicki said. "These teams all have rich baseball traditions and they play at a very high level. We won't try to be anything more than who we are and I expect we will continue to play good fundamental baseball. Win or lose, we have a confident group of guys who will compete hard."
In the latest Collegiate Baseball rankings, Oklahoma State was No. 10, Cal State Fullerton was No. 22 and Nebraska was No. 24.
The Cowboys were the Big 12 Conference regular season champions. OSU's 45 wins are its most since 1999, which also marks the last time the Pokes appeared in the College World Series. OSU is making its 40th NCAA Tournament appearance, a total that ranks fourth all time, and the Cowboys own an all-time NCAA tourney record of 136-85 (.615), with the 136 wins ranking seventh in NCAA history. On Sunday, the Cowboys' run at the Big 12 Baseball Championship fell short of a title as the top-seeded Cowboys dropped a 7-1 contest to second-seeded TCU in the championship game. The Cowboys are 33-11 all time in Regional play on their current home field and have won six Regional titles, the last coming in 1993.
Nebraska earned an at-large invitation after posting the most wins by a Husker program since 2008. The Huskies have played some of the best baseball across the country over the past two months, posting a 25-6 record over their past 31 games after starting the season 15-13. They will be making their 13 appearance in the NCAA Tournament and their ninth since 2000. Nebraska made five straight trips to the NCAA Tournament from 1999 to 2003. The Huskers made back-to-back appearances at the College World Series in 2001 and 2002, before returning to the championship event in 2005.
Cal State Fullerton ended the year fourth in the Big West Conference standings, and was in jeopardy of missing the postseason before ending the regular season on a seven-game winning streak, the team's longest of the year. The team won 10 of its last 12 games, outscoring opponents 67-21 during that stretch. Fullerton has made 36 NCAA appearances in its 40 years at the Division I level, and the current string of 23 consecutive appearances is third longest in the nation behind Miami (42) and Florida State (37). The Titans boast a record of 144-76 in the postseason, including a record of 94-39 in Regional action.
On Sunday, BU earned the program's second-straight NCAA berth and third in the last six years with a memorable 8-7 win in 12 innings over top-seeded Stony Brook in the America East title game. The Bearcats were four outs from elimination before rallying to force extra innings and then BU won it when freshman Eddie Posavec hit a bases-loaded RBI single with one out in the bottom of the 12th.
Posavec's hit ended the longest title game in the 25-year baseball history of the America East. The win capped a gutsy showing by an injury-depleted BU team that became just the second team in conference history to win four straight elimination games and the first to do so by knocking off the tournament top seed in back-to-back games. After dropping its opener to No. 2 seed Hartford, the No. 3 Bearcats rattled off elimination-game wins over No. 4 Maine (6-3) and Hartford (8-0) before edging Stony Brook twice with late-inning heroics. Binghamton forced a winner-take-all game with a 4-3 win Saturday night and then exploded for a season-high 21 hits in Sunday's final.
The Bearcats are 1-4 all-time in the NCAA tournament. Binghamton made its NCAA Division I tournament debut in 2009 and went 1-2 at the Greenville Regional. There, fourth-seeded BU lost to 17th-ranked and host East Carolina 11-7 in the opener before eliminating a George Mason team that was "receiving votes" in the national poll, 11-6, for the team's historic first NCAA postseason win. The Bearcats then lost a second time to the host Pirates 16-9.
In 2013, BU played in the NCAA Raleigh Regional, losing to College World Series participant NC State (4-1) and 23rd-ranked Ole Miss (8-4) in pair of tight games. The Bearcats collected 18 hits and BU pitchers compiled 16 strikeouts in the two NCAA games.
Each of the 16 regionals features four teams, playing a double-elimination format. The regionals are scheduled to be conducted from May 30 to June 2 (if necessary). The 68th Men's College World Series begins play June 14, at the TD Ameritrade Park Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska. There are 31 Division I conferences which received an automatic berth in the field of 64, along with 33 at-large selections.
MEDIA COVERAGE OF SELECTION SHOW: WBNG | FOX 40 | Time Warner Cable News | Press & Sun Bulletin
NCAA Stillwater Regional (Stillwater, Okla.) Schedule
Friday, May 30
#2 Nebraska vs. #3 Cal State Fullerton (1 p.m.) (ET)
#1 Oklahoma State vs. #4 Binghamton (7 p.m.) (ET)
Saturday, May 31
Sunday, June 1
Monday, June 2
*if necessary
CHAMPIONS!! Baseball beats Stony Brook 8-7 in historic title game
Bearcats win it in bottom of 12th on Posavec hit, advance to NCAAs for second straight year
May 25, 2014Tweet
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LOWELL, Mass. - Freshman catcher Eddie Posavec delivered a bases-loaded RBI single to deep left field with one out in the bottom of the 12th inning to give Binghamton a dramatic 8-7 walk-off win over top-seeded Stony Brook in the America East championship game at LeLacheur Park. By capturing the program's second straight conference title and third in the last six years, the Bearcats (25-25) advance to the NCAA tournament and will await their regional assignment when the 64-team draw is announced at noon on Monday on ESPNU.
Posavec's hit ended the longest title game in the 25-year baseball history of the America East. The win capped a gutsy showing by an injury-depleted BU team that became just the second team in conference history to win four straight elimination games and the first to do so by knocking off the tournament top seed in back-to-back games. After dropping its opener to No. 2 seed Hartford, the No. 3 Bearcats rattled off elimination-game wins over No. 4 Maine (6-3) and Hartford (8-0) before edging Stony Brook twice with late-inning heroics. Binghamton forced a winner-take-all game with a 4-3 win Saturday night and then exploded for a season-high 21 hits in Sunday's final.
Junior Anthony Grillini (W, 3-0) was brilliant over the final 5.2 shutout innings, allowing just four hits and striking out five.
"This team has an incredible resiliency," head coach Tim Sinicki said. "We have a veteran group mixed in with some talented young players that has shown the ability to stay focus all year through some highs and lows. They've always found a way to get the job done and all the credit goes to that group of kids out there on the field today for battling back from the losers' bracket and finding a way to win."
After stranding 21 runners in the first 11 innings, including the potential winning run on second base in the ninth, 10th and 11th frames, BU broke through in the bottom of the 12th. Senior Shaun McGraw led off with a single to center. McGraw was erased on a fielder's choice grounder from sophomore third baseman Reed Gamache. Freshman DH Brendan Skidmore singled to center and senior shortstop John Howell walked to load the bases for Posavec, who drilled a 1-0 pitch over the head of a drawn-in Seawolves outfield to plate Gamache with the championship-clinching run.
McGraw went 4-for-6 and earned Most Outstanding Player honors after hitting .450 (9-for-20) with five RBI in the five games. He had a .520 on-base percentage and belted the tournament's only home run in the win over Maine. Grillini, who also tossed a scoreless inning against Hartford, also earned all-tournament honors with his 0.00 ERA. Joining the pair were junior pitcher Greg Ostner, who fired a complete-game shutout against Hartford and didn't allow a run in two appearances spanning 11.0 innings, and Posavec, who hit .400 in the series (8-for-20) with four RBI, including the clincher.
The Bearcats jumped out to a 4-1 lead with three runs in the bottom of the second inning - courtesy of successive two-out RBI singles by junior right fielder Zach Blanden, senior center fielder Bill Bereszniewicz and senior second baseman Daniel Nevares. But Stony Brook chipped away with single runs in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to tie it at 4-4. The Seawolves then scored three runs in the top of the seventh to jump ahead 7-4. But BU stayed firm with a run in the seventh and two runs to tie it at 7-7 in the bottom of the eighth.
On Sunday, Gamache went 5-for-6 with the big hit being a two-out, two-run single up the middle to tie the game in the eighth. Blanden went 3-for-5 with an RBI and also started an inning-ending double play in the top of the 11th that erased a Stony Brook threat. With a go-ahead runner on second, Blanden charged and caught a hard liner and fired back to Howell at the bag to double off the Seawolves' baserunner. Bereszniewicz also had three hits and an RBI and stole his 23rd base of the season, breaking the Binghamton single-season record. Posavec and Skidmore had two hits apiece.
Seven different players registered RBIs, including junior left fielder Jake Thomas and Howell and groundouts in the first and seventh innings, respectively.
Freshman Casey Wenzel continued BU's run of clutch pitching performances with a solid 3.2 innings to start the game. Making his first collegiate start against a conference opponent, Wenzel allowed just three hits and an earned run. Junior Mike Bunal entered with the bases loaded in the top of the fourth and got a big strikeout to end the frame. Just two days after his win over Maine, sophomore Jake Cryts gutted out 2.1 innings in his first relief appearance of the season before giving way to Grillini.
It was the program's fifth appearance as a finalist (runnersup in 2007 and 2008) ... BU dropped all three regular-season games to Stony Brook and was 0-3 all-time against the Seawolves in the America East tournament… The Bearcats turned 10 double plays in the five games, including four in Sunday's championship game… Because of injuries, Binghamton was without six pitchers and half the team's starting infield… 22nd-year head coach Tim Sinicki, the longest-tenured coach at Binghamton, juggled a depleted pitching staff masterfully and received huge contributions from unheralded throwers such as freshman walk-on Nicholas Liegi (1.59 ERA in 2 appearances) and sophomore Tsuyoshi Horibata (0.00 ERA in 2 appearances) as well as freshman Jextin Pugh- (win over Stony Brook on Saturday)... As a team BU hit .312 in the tournament and held down a 3.45 pitching ERA.
Baseball Wins Thriller 4-3 Over Stony Brook; Forces Decisive Game 7
Bearcats defeated Hartford 8-0 earlier in day to setup meeting with Stony Brook
May 24, 2014Tweet
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Stony Brook Box Score | Stony Brook Highlights
LOWELL, Mass. – Junior left fielder Jake Thomas roped a two-out RBI single to center field in the top of the ninth propelling the Binghamton baseball team to a thrilling 4-3 victory over top-seeded Stony Brook in the 2014 America East Championship, Saturday night at LeLacheur Park. In a must-win game for the Bearcats (24-25), a clutch ninth inning extended their season one more day and forced a winner-take-all Game 7 tomorrow at noon.
Binghamton, playing in its fifth championship round in program history, defeated Stony Brook for the first time in its America East Championship history (1-3 all-time) thanks to solid pitching, sure-handed defense and timely hitting.
One of those sure-handed plays came when the Bearcats received a clutch double-play from sophomore third baseman Reed Gamache in the bottom of the ninth. With runners on first and third and one out, Gamache made a shoe-string catch on a laser by Casey Baker then turned and threw to second to double-up the runner. At first it did not appear to be a clean catch but the umpire crew huddled and deemed the play good to end the 3 hour and 12 minute game.
Six of Binghamton's nine batters collected a hit on the night led by senior second baseman Daniel Nevares' 2-for-4 outing. Thomas, whose clutch hit scored Nevares, also registered a multi-hit game going 2-for-5 on the night.
Head coach Tim Sinicki wisely utilized a short pitching staff going with freshmen Nicholas Liegi and Jextin Pugh for four innings each before Tsuyoshi Horibata closed out the game in the ninth picking up his second career save. Pugh earned his first career win after battling through a tough eight inning.
Binghamton threatened early putting a pair of runners on in the top of the first and loading the bases in the top of the second with no outs. However, in the second freshman catch Eddie Posavec grounded into a 3-2-3 double-play and a diving grab by the Stony Brook second baseman ended Binghamton's chance at striking first.
Stony Brook, the nation's leader in fielding percentage, capitalized on its solid defense by scoring a run in the bottom of the second to take a 1-0 lead. The Seawolves defense did falter at times however, committing three errors, allowing three unearned runs.
The Bearcats manufactured a run in the top of the fifth to tie the game at one. Senior shortstop John Howell led off the inning with a walk then stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. Binghamton had runners on the corners when senior center fielder Bill Bereszniewicz grounded into what could have been an inning-ending double play. However, the speedster beat the throw to score Howell from third.
After both teams went down in order in the sixth the see-saw battle began in the seventh. Howell slapped a one-out single to right field then stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. Two batters later junior right fielder Zach Blanden hit a shot to first scoring Howell and handing Binghamton a 2-1 advantage.
Stony Brook answered in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI double by America East Player of the Year Kevin Krause. With the Seawolves still threatening with one out, Howell made a great defensive play on a line drive to double-up Krause at second.
The Bearcats had a response however, as Nevares led off the eighth inning with a single to left field. Thomas then laid down a sacrifice bunt but an errant throw by Stony Brook allowed Nevares to move to third. A red-hot Shaun McGraw then sent a sacrifice fly to deep center field to score Nevares and hand the Bearcats a 3-2 lead.
Stony Brook rallied yet again, as a two-out RBI single by Josh Mason evened the score at three in the bottom of eighth.
An extremely resilient Binghamton squad never stopped fighting however, as a Blanden walk and stolen base coupled with a single by Nevares put runners on the corners with two out, setting up Thomas' heroics.
The Seawolves had the heart of the order due up in the bottom of the ninth. Krause reached on a pretty bunt single down the left side. Kevin Courtney, a first-team all-conference selection, laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Krause in scoring position. After Horibata walked Cole Peragine the fireworks commenced. Horibata delivered a 2-1 pitch to lefty Casey Baker, who lined into the controversial game-ending double play.
Binghamton is just the third team in America East history to force a decisive game seven after losing its opening game of the tournament (Maine, 2002 & Vermont 2006). The teams meet again Sunday at noon for the conference title. The Bearcats are seeking to become the first team to win back-to-back America East titles since Maine did it in 2005 and 2006.
BINGHAMTON 8, HARTFORD 0 (Game 5)
Hartford Box Score | Hartford Highlights
The Binghamton baseball team cruised past Hartford 8-0 in the losers' bracket final to advance to the title round of the 2014 America East Championship, Saturday afternoon at LeLacheur Park. The defending champion Bearcats will be making their fifth title round appearance tonight at 6 p.m. versus top-seed Stony Brook. BU must win to force a Game 7 tomorrow at noon and continue its hopes for back-to-back titles.
The Bearcats received an absolute gem from junior Greg Ostner who threw a complete-game shutout in just his second career start. The righty from New Milford, Conn. scattered six hits, issued one walk and struck out four batters. He threw an extremely efficient 105 pitches (72 strikes) preserving a depleted Binghamton bullpen.
Binghamton's offense exploded for 12 hits and eight runs as the heart of BU's order went a combined 7-for-15 with four RBI and seven runs scored. Senior Shaun McGraw continued his stellar tournament with a 2-for-3 day with two RBI and two runs scored. Classmate Daniel Nevares went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and junior Jake Thomas broke out of his 0-for-9 slump with a 1-for-3 outing with two RBI and two runs scored.
The Bearcats wasted little time breaking the game open plating five runs in the bottom of the first, supplying Ostner with all the offense he would need. Binghamton's 1-2-3 hitters all singled to start the game to load the bases for Thomas. The two-time first-team all-conference selection roped a single to left field scoring junior Zach Blanden and senior Bill Bereszniewicz. McGraw continued the production with a double down the left field line to score Thomas and Nevares. After a ground out, freshman designated hitter Brendan Skidmore's sacrifice fly plated McGraw to give the Bearcats a 5-0 lead after the first. The Bearcats ran Hartford starting pitcher Kyle Gauthier after the first inning.
In the fourth Ostner gave up a lead-off single to freshman David McKinnon, the only Hawk to record a hit at the time. However, a solid Binghamton defense turned its fourth double-play of the tournament to stymie an answer from Hartford.
Binghamton added three more runs in the fifth to extend its lead to 8-0. Nevares lead-off the inning with a single up the middle then stole second to move into scoring position. After a pair of walks to Thomas and McGraw, sophomore Reed Gamache was hit to score Nevares. Senior John Howell then scored Thomas with a sacrifice fly to right field. America East All-Rookie selection Eddie Posavec rounded out the scoring in the fifth with an RBI single through the right side to plate McGraw.
Hartford put together its biggest threat of the game in the sixth as the Hawks produced back-to-back one-out singles. However, Ostner was able to get Hartford's 3 and 4 hitters to fly out and end the inning and the Hawks last real chance.
Ostner recorded three 1-2-3 inning during his stellar outing to pick up his third win of the season and fifth of his career.
Posavec continued his outstanding tournament going 2-for-4 with an RBI and two stolen bases. Bereszniewicz went 2-for-5 with a run scored. Only one Binghamton battered failed to record a hit.
Binghamton is just the sixth team to lose its first game in the conference championship and advance to the title round. Only two teams have forced a Game 7 in the tournament history, Maine in 2002 and Vermont in 2006. Maine is the only team to go on to win the title after losing its first game of the championship.
The Bearcats also advanced to the championship round in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2012, winning titles in 2009 and 2012. Stony Brook and Binghamton are meeting four just the fourth time ever in the conference championship and the second in the title round.
Baseball Stays Alive With 6-3 Win Over Maine At AE Tourney
Three different Bearcats drive in a pair of runs; Cryts pitches 7.1 strong innings
May 23, 2014Tweet
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LOWELL, Mass. – The Binghamton baseball team kept its hopes of back-to-back titles alive with a 6-3 victory over Maine in an elimination game at the 2014 America East Championship, Friday afternoon from LeLacheur Park. Sophomore Jake Cryts pitched seven strong innings and three different Bearcats drove in a pair of runs to propel Binghamton (22-25) into the losers' bracket final against Hartford at 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon. The game will be aired live on AmericaEast.TV.
Freshman catcher Eddie Posavec went 3-for-3 with two RBI, while senior Shaun McGraw was 2-for-4 with two RBI and an emphatic solo shot in the eighth inning to seal Binghamton's victory. Junior right fielder Zach Blanden had a solid day at the plate going 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI and a run scored.
The middle of Binghamton's order was clutch all afternoon as the five, six and seven hitters combined to go 7-for-14, scoring five of the Bearcats' six runs. In contrast the heart of BU's order was quiet going 3-for-14.
Cryts, who gave up two runs in the first inning, calmed down to pitch 7.1 strong innings scattering nine hits and three runs. In what seemed to be a high pitch count, the sophomore righty registered an efficient 88 pitches (54 strikes) to pick up his fifth win of the season.
After Maine (24-29) plated a pair of runs in the top half of the first inning, Binghamton quickly responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the first. Blanden drew a walk to lead off the inning then advanced to second on an infield single by senior center fielder Bill Bereszniewicz. Following two popups by Binghamton's three and four hitters, McGraw laced a ball through the left side to score Blanden from second and trim Maine's lead in half.
The Bearcats struck again in the fourth thanks to back-to-back singles by sophomores Reed Gamache and David Schanz putting runners on first and second with one out. Gamache and Schanz move up on stolen bases while senior shortstop John Howell drew a walk to load the bases. Posavec then stepped to the plate and sliced a 1-2 pitch to left field to score Gamache and Schanz and hand Binghamton a 3-2 lead, which they would not relinquish.
Binghamton added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Schanz again sparked the Bearcats by legging out an infield single to lead off the sixth. However, the third baseman re-aggravated a hamstring injury while advancing to first, ending his day. After Howell reached on an error and Posavec moved over the runners with a sacrifice bunt, Blanden put the Bearcats up 4-2 with a sacrifice fly to center field. In the seventh, three straight singles loaded the bases for Blanden who picked up his second RBI on a two-out infield chopper to third to put Binghamton up 5-2.
Maine scratched off a run in the top of the eighth on a two-out RBI single by Brian Doran to pull the Black Bears within two. Cryts exited the game after a one-out double by Maine starting pitcher and designated hitter Scott Heath. The Binghamton starter was relieved by freshman Nicholas Liegi, who left Doran stranded.
McGraw's deep solo shot to left field bounced off the newly installed scoreboard at LeLacheur Park, immediately answering Maine's run in the top half of the inning and all but sealed the win for the Bearcats.
Liegi shut down the Black Bears in the ninth retiring the side in order to pick up his first career save.
Binghamton was sound defensively playing errorless baseball and turning a pair of double-plays. However, the Bearcats did leave 12 runners stranded, loading the bases in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings.
Gamache went 2-for-5 with a pair of runs while freshman Brendan Skidmore was 1-for-1 with a run scored after replacing Schanz in the lineup. Schanz was 2-for-3 with a run scored before leaving due to his injury.
Medianik Earns America East All-Academic Honors
Junior collects her second straight All-Academic Selection
May 23, 2014Tweet
Cambridge, Mass.—Junior Katya Medianik was named to the America East Women's Tennis All-Academic team on Friday afternoon as announced by the conference. Medianik, who was a second team all-conference singles player for the Bearcats in 2014, earned her second straight all-academic selection.
Medianik had the top GPA among her teammates this season, racking up a cumulative 3.60 GPA majoring in Philosophy, Politics and Law. The Brooklyn, NY native went 11-18 overall in singles play in 2013-14, including a 7-11 mark in dual competition that secured a spot on the America East second team singles squad.
An active member in SAAC (Student Athlete Advisory Committee) and the Russian Student Union on campus, Medianik has also demonstrated leadership by carrying the title of team captain for the past two seasons. In 2014, she helped guide BU to the two seed in the America East conference tournament and helped the Binghamton program to their 13th straight trip to the America East semifinals match.
Since arriving to Binghamton in 2011, the three-year letterwinner has been recognized on the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll (3.50 GPA and above), as well as the Binghamton AD Honor Roll (3.30 GPA and above). Last season, she helped the women's tennis program sweep the Team Academic Cup race, an award that goes to the squad with the highest team GPA in the Binghamton athletic department.
All-Academic squads for team sports are based on the number of athletes that participate in a contest at one time or are made up of 10 student-athletes for individual sports. To be nominated for the distinction, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve for their team and participate in at least 50 percent of their team's games or competitions. In the classroom, student-athletes must have a 3.30 GPA and have completed at least one calendar year at their institution. Freshmen are not eligible for consideration.
Miceli and Platel to compete in NCAA East Regional Meet
Three-day event to be held May 29-31 at North Florida
May 23, 2014Tweet
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VESTAL, N.Y. – Sophomore pole vaulter Joe Miceli and graduate student thrower Jacob Platel have advanced to the NCAA East Regional Outdoor Track & Field Meet, which will take place May 29-31 at North Florida.
The top 48 performances during the current outdoor season qualify for the NCAA East Regional Meet. Miceli is seeded No. 48 in the pole vault (16-7 ½) while Platel is No. 38 in the hammer (197 ½).
The top 12 finishers in each event at the NCAA East Regional Meet will advance to the NCAA Championships, which will be held June 11-14 at the University of Oregon. Also advancing to the NCAA Championships will be the top 12 finishers from the West Regional Meet, which will also be held May 23-25 at the University of Arkansas.
Platel, who was third in the hammer at the America East Outdoor Championships on May 2, was sixth last week at the IC4A Meet with his current qualifying distance. He has already broken the school record in the hammer twice this season.
Miceli, meanwhile, was fourth in the pole vault at the conference meet and was second in the decathlon.
Both Platel and Miceli are first-time entrants in the NCAA East Regional Meet.
Since 2004, Binghamton has had 29 men's qualifiers for the NCAA Outdoor Regional Meet and eight women's selections. From that meet, Rory Quiller advanced to the 2006 and 2007 NCAA Championships while Erik van Ingen went in 2011 and 2012.
Men's soccer completes coaching staff
Louis Liberatore was assistant coach at Frostburg State the past two years
May 22, 2014Tweet
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VESTAL, N.Y. – Binghamton head men's soccer coach Paul Marco announced the addition of Louis Liberatore (pronounced Lib-er-AH-tor) to his staff Tuesday afternoon. He joins Marco and current assistant Nic Rossi to form this year's coaching staff.
Liberatore arrives from Frostburg State, where he was the graduate assistant coach for the women's soccer team the past two seasons. As the goalkeeper coach, he helped guide the squad to 22 wins during that span as well as a 0.95 GAA and 15 shutouts.
Prior to his stint at Frostburg State, Liberatore was a volunteer assistant goalkeeper coach at his alma mater, Belmont Abbey, during the 2011-12 academic year. At the same time, he was the assistant director of goalkeeper for the Gaston United Soccer Club.
"I'm thrilled to have Louis join our staff," Marco said. "He brings great energy and enthusiasm both on and off the field. He will be a great addition, especially in working with our goalkeepers."
"I want to thank Paul for giving me the opportunity to join the men's soccer program," Liberatore said. "I look forward to learning from Paul and Nic while bringing my own skill set and experience to the program. I also look forward to working with and helping to improve a great group of young men."
A five-year letterwinner at Belmont Abbey, Liberatore graduated in 2012 with a double major in sports management and sports psychology. A two-year team captain, he was named both All-Conference Carolinas and Academic All-Conference Carolinas.
Liberatore holds a NSCAA National Diploma as well as a Level III Goalkeeping Diploma.
Binghamton University – Louis Liberatore named assistant men's soccer coach.
Baseball Falls To Hartford 6-1 In America East Tournament
Bearcats (21-25) limited to just three hits by the America East Pitcher of the Year
May 22, 2014Tweet
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LOWELL, Mass. - The Binghamton baseball team fell to Hartford 6-1 in its opening game of the 2014 America East Championship, Thursday night at LeLacheur Park. The Bearcats' (21-25) bats were silenced by Hartford ace Sean Newcomb, who limited the defending champions to just two hits after multiple rain delays pushed back the original start time of 6 p.m. to almost 9 p.m. Binghamton falls to the losers bracket where they will face Maine at 2 p.m. Friday afternoon.
Binghamton and Hartford (31-21) met for the first-time ever in the America East Championship as the Hawks were making just their fourth appearance all-time and first since 1996. The Bearcats in contrast are playing in their eighth straight conference tournament, the league's second longest streak (Stony Brook, 9).
The Bearcats got off to a slow start as Newcomb cruised through the first three innings striking out eight of the first 10 batters he faced. The America East Pitcher of the Year and projected first-round draft pick in June finished with a career-high 14 strike outs and was said to have reached triple digits on the guns of the dozen Major League scouts in attendance.
Hartford struck first in the bottom of the third plating four runs on three consecutive two-out RBI singles. After a walk by Binghamton starting pitcher Jack Rogalla and a double by Hartford's Adam Touhey, the Hawks were threatening with runners on first and third with one out. Following a nice play to home by third baseman David Schanz the Hawks strung together three straight hits to supply Newcomb with more than enough support.
Binghamton made the most noise in the next half inning as senior centerfielder Bill Bereszniewicz recorded the Bearcats' first hit on a beautiful bunt single in between the pitcher and first baseman. Senior Daniel Nevares then walked and junior Jake Thomas reached on an error to load the bases with no outs. However, Newcomb struck out the next two Binghamton batters to calm the surge. Schanz drew a walk to score Bereszniewicz and the Bearcats' lone run of the night. Senior shortstop John Howell seemed to a draw a walk as well and cut the Hartford lead to two, but was called out looking to end Binghamton's best chance of the night.
Hartford tacked on runs in the fourth and fifth ending Rogalla's night after 4.0 innings pitched. The Binghamton ace surrendered all six runs on eight hits with a pair of strike outs.
Binghamton, who has been hampered by injuries all season, used three different pitchers out of its depleted bullpen. The trio of Greg Ostner, Tsuyoshi Horibata and Anthony Grillini pitched the final four innings combining for eight strike outs, five coming from Ostner, who pitched two strong innings.
Bereszniewicz went 1-for-4 with a run scored, while freshman catch Eddie Posavec and senior first basemen Shaun McGraw each went 1-for-3. Posavec recorded the hardest hit ball against Newcomb as he drilled a two-out pitch to left-centerfield in the seventh inning. Posavec was the only Binghamton batter Newcomb did not strike out as the Bearcats left seven runners on base.
Binghamton is 12-14 all-time in the America East Championship and will need to beat Maine to keep its hopes of back-to-back titles alive. The Bearcats are 5-3 against Maine in the conference tournament including a pair of wins last year en route to their second conference championship.
Six Baseball Players Honored By America East
Bereszniewicz, Thomas named to first team; Rogalla, Nevares second team
May 21, 2014Tweet
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LOWELL, Mass. - On the eve of the America East Baseball Championship, six Binghamton players earned recognition for their performances in 2014. At the conference's annual tournament picnic and awards ceremony Wednesday night at LeLacheur Park, senior center fielder Bill Bereszniewicz and junior left fielder Jake Thomas were announced as first team all-conference selections. Junior pitcher Jack Rogalla and senior second baseman Daniel Nevares were named to the second team and freshmen Eddie Posavec and Jextin Pugh earned All-Rookie honors. In addition, both Bereszniewicz and Thomas were chosen to the All-Academic Team – each for the second time.
It marked the 11th straight year the Bearcats have produced at least four all-conference players.
Bereszniewicz was an easy choice as one of the top-three outfielders after he led the America East in three offensive categories: batting average (.366), triples (5) and stolen bases (21) and played a stellar center field throughout 2014. He ranks among the top-four in the conference in seven offensive categories and has been a spark plug in the No. 2 spot in the batting order with a .435 on-base percentage. It's the first all-conference honor for Bereszniewicz, who was an All-Rookie selection back in 2011.
"It was a well-deserved honor for an outstanding young man who has had an terrific season both offensively and defensively," head coach Tim Sinicki said. "Bill has been our most consistent player all year and we are expecting a great effort from him over the weekend."
Thomas earned his second straight first-team all-conference honor after another productive season in the heart of BU's batting order. He hit .294 with a team-high six home runs and 31 RBI. Thomas had an on-base percentage of .412 and added 10 stolen bases (10-of-12) and six outfield assists to his credentials. Thomas was named America East Player of the Week twice (April 8 & 21). The junior from Merrick, N.Y. was also an America East All-Rookie selection 2012.
"For Jake to earn back-to-back first-team honors shows that he is the model of consistency," Sinicki said. "I think people have come to realize that he is one of the most dangerous offensive players in the conference. Jake is very deserving of this honor and we look forward to him having a big weekend for us."
Rogalla, BU's starting pitcher for its tournament opener against Hartford Thursday night, earned his first all-conference selection. He won five games and carries a 3.29 ERA into the postseason. Opponents are hitting just .237 off him and he has collected 61 strikeouts in 82 innings this spring. The red-shirt junior's 61 strikeouts ranks fourth in the league while his 82 innings pitched is third.
Nevares was tabbed all-conference for the third straight year. A slugger with a slick glove at second, Nevares has amped up his offense and now has five home runs, 12 extra-base hits and a team-high 34 RBI. Nevares was tabbed America East Player of the Week on May 5 after a monster week of three home runs and 12 RBI. The Puerto Rico native was a first-team selection last year and a second-team honoree in 2012.
"Jack and Danny had very solid years and performed admirably for us this season," Sinicki noted. "They have been valuable pieces since they stepped into this program and it was nice to see them rewarded for their efforts."
Posavec has been outstanding behind the plate after being pressed into exclusive catching duty in early April. In addition to handling the pitching staff without a day off (26 straight games), he's been steady with the bat, hitting .315 with nine doubles. Posavec also has refuted the typical "slower catcher" label by stealing 8-of-9 bases. Posavec was named America East Rookie of the Week on April 8 when Binghamton swept the weekly awards.
Pugh has contributed as a pitcher and a hitter in his first collegiate campaign. On the hill, he has a 4.13 ERA in 17 appearances with 25 strikeouts in 32.2 innings. He provided a spark at the plate in BU's regular-season finale at Albany, driving in two runs to help the Bearcats sew up the No. 3 seed.
"Jextin and Eddie both contributed significantly throughout the course of the year," Sinicki said. "Jextin gave us quality innings out of the bullpen when we suffered some injuries and is counted on as a two-way player. Eddie stepped up behind the plate after an injury to the starting catcher and produced both offensively and defensively. I was not surprised that he earned this honor because he worked extremely hard this season."
Bereszniewicz made the All-Academic Team for the second time in the last three years with his 3.45 grade-point average in Management & Finance. Thomas earned a repeat selection with his 3.53 GPA in Management. Bereszniewicz and Thomas are the fourth and fifth Binghamton players to be named to multiple All-Academic teams. In total, the Binghamton baseball program has produced 23 all-academic selections and have had at least two players named to the team eight of the last nine years.
"The fact that Bill and Jake were first-teamers and all-academic selections speaks volumes to their dedication and commitment to the mission of the program, athletic department and University," Sinicki stated.
Baseball Team Holds AE Tournament Media Day
Defending champion Bearcats face Hartford on Thursday at 8 p.m.
May 20, 2014Tweet
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VESTAL, N.Y.—The Binghamton baseball team, which won the America East title last year, returns to defend its crown later this week at UMass Lowell. Before departing campus, the Bearcats held their annual America East Tournament Media Day on Tuesday afternoon.
Binghamton is the No. 3 seed in the four-team event and will face No. 2 Hartford in the opening round on Thursday at 6 p.m. Stony Brook, the top seed, will face No. 4 Maine in the tournament's opening game at 2 p.m. from LeLacheur Park.
The America East will host a Google+ Hangout on Wednesday, May 21 at 5 p.m. with members of each of the participating schools in the 2014 Baseball Championship! Tune in to preview the championship and see what the student-athletes have to say. Have a question for one of the players? Submit it to us on Twitter (@AmericaEast) using the hashtag #AEChamps. Senior captains Bill Bereszniewicz, Shaun McGraw and junior ace Jack Rogalla will be representing Binghamton.
Track & field competes at ECAC/IC4A Outdoor Meet
Hatcher and Platel set school records
May 19, 2014Tweet
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PRINCETON, N.J. – Sophomore Alexis Hatcher and graduate student Jacob Platel each set a school record, highlighting Binghamton's performance at the ECAC/IC4A Outdoor Track Championships this weekend. The meet was hosted by Princeton University.
Hatcher, who was third in the 3,000 Steeplechase at the America East Championships two weeks earlier, was 11th overall. Her time of 10:48.3 eclipsed the school record of 10:48.88 set by Lindsay Raulli in 2012.
Platel, meanwhile, was sixth in the hammer with a distance of 197-8. That shattered the program record of 189-6 which he set back on April 12 at the West Point Open
Up next for Binghamton is the East Regional Meet, which will be held May 29-31 at North Florida. The top 48 performances in each event from the Eastern half of the country will advance to that meet. The final list will be released this week.
NOTE: Freshman Eric Holt competed this weekend at the Virginia Tech Hokie Twilight Meet. He was third in the 1,500 with a time of 3:48.94, which was his personal-best time.
Former BU Softball Standout Flourishing in Coaching Ranks
Yerdon-Grange leads Rochester to Division III College World Series
May 19, 2014Tweet
Contact: David O'Brian (dobrian@binghamton)
VESTAL, N.Y. – This past weekend, commencement ceremonies were held at the Events Center and over 70 of BU's graduating student-athletes took part in the festivities. Nearly 200 miles away, however, a BU alumni athlete was making news of their own.
Margaret Yerdon-Grange, who concluded a standout softball career a dozen years ago, is the current head softball coach at Rochester University (which competes at the NCAA Division III level). On Saturday, she coached the Yellow Jackets to their first-ever appearance in the College World Series.
Rochester (32-12) advanced to the College World Series, which begins on Thursday in Tyler, Texas, by sweeping a pair of games against No. 15 Rowan. The clincher was a 3-0, nine-inning win on Saturday on its home field.
"From early on in the season, I knew this was going to be a special team," Yerdon-Grange said. "Even though we started off a little slow, this team was really close and played for each other the whole year. It's great for our team to be going to the College World Series. We have a very supportive athletic department here and (the fact that) we also stepped up to host the Super Regional made it a great day for our university."
Yerdon-Grange is connected to Binghamton in more ways than one. From 2006-09, she was the assistant coach at Rochester under current Binghamton head coach Michelle Burrell. With Burrell and Yerdon working together, the Yellow Jackets won three straight Liberty Conference titles and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament from 2007-09.
When Burrell accepted the job at Binghamton in July 2009, Yerdon-Grange was elevated to the head position. Since then, she has gone 132-80 and has also led the Yellow Jackets to the NCAA Tournament in 2012.
"I learned a tremendous amount from Michelle," Yerdon-Grange said. "I was a volunteer assistant (at Rochester) in 2005 before she came here. I saw how she was able to come in and build the softball program to the point that we were winning championships."
Burrell, meanwhile, made the trip to Rochester on Saturday to watch the clinching game. Afterwards, she couldn't have been prouder of her former assistant.
"I am so happy for Margaret, her staff and her players," she said. "She is not only a great coach but a great person as well and Rochester is very lucky to have her leading their program. We wish them the best of luck as they compete in the College World Series this week."
Yerdon-Grange competed at Binghamton from 1998-02 under former head coach Holly Brown. During that time, the program transitioned from the NCAA Division III level in 1998 to the Division I level her final year. In between, the team was a Division II member from 1999-01.
Binghamton advanced to the NCAA Division III Regional in 1998. It won the ECAC Division II title in 2000. In 2002, the Bearcats won 23 games in their first season as a Division I program. Yerdon-Grange, meanwhile, was a NFCA Regional All-American in 1999, the New England College Conference (NECC) Pitcher of the Year in 2000 and was a first-team America East all-conference selection in 2002.
"Being a part of the Binghamton softball program had a big impact in my (future) coaching career," she said. "We had a competitive edge and work ethic that played a big part in our success."
Twelve years after she graduated from Binghamton, Yerdon continues to follow the Bearcats' softball program. From the start, she was confident that Burrell would build that program just like she did at Rochester. Since 2011, the Bearcats have advanced to the America East Tournament three times. Prior to Burrell's arrival, they had yet to reach post season play during their Division I era.
"When Michelle got the job at Binghamton, I expected the program to improve," she said. "She is a great coach and has done a great job of bringing in players. They are only going to continue to get better."