For Immediate Release: April 7, 2004
Contact: David O'Brian (dobrian@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6478

Bearcats upset No. 19 UMBC 5-4
Chaapel scores game-winner with four seconds left

Box Score

VESTAL, N.Y.--Sophomore attack Brian Chaapel (Penn Yan, N.Y./Penn Yan Academy) scored his second goal of the game with four seconds remaining, propelling Binghamton (4-4, 2-0 AE) to a 5-4 upset over No. 19 UMBC (3-4, 1-1 AE) at the East Gym Complex on Wednesday afternoon. The win marks the first time in its three-year history that the Bearcats have defeated a nationally-ranked opponent. It also vaulted Binghamton into sole possession of first place in the America East Conference.

"We have prepared a long time to pull off a win like this," head coach Ed Stephenson said. "One of our goals this season was to qualify for the America East Conference Tournament and today was a big step in that direction."

With time running down in regulation, Chaapel went behind the UMBC goal with the ball, came around the right side and fired a shot that took one bounce and landed in the net. That goal, as well as the conclusion of the game, sparked off a wild celebration on the Binghamton sideline.

"I knew I had time to get a good shot off," Chaapel said. "Coach (Stephenson) wanted us to take as much time off the clock as we could. This win is a big step for our team and we are going to keep things rolling."

Binghamton went up 2-0 in the opening 3:46 of the game. Freshmen attacks Rob Williams (Fulton, N.Y./ Fulton) and Matt McNamara (Oswego, N.Y./ Oswego) each netted an unassisted goal during that span. UMBC, however, closed the gap to 2-1 on an unassisted goal by freshman attack Drew Westervelt with 7:04 left in the first quarter.

Williams and Westervelt each added another goal in the second quarter as Binghamton lead 3-2 with time running out in the half. The Retrievers, however, got a goal from senior midfield Franklin Berry with four seconds left to deadlock the game at 3-3.

Each team scored a man-up goal in the third quarter. Sophomore attack Brendan Mundorf gave UMBC a 4-3 lead with 9:12 left to go but Chaapel tied the game at the 1:30 mark. Williams assisted on Chaapel's goal.

The two teams went scoreless in the fourth quarter until Chaapel pulled his heroics.

UMBC outshot Binghamton 22-16 but sophomore goalie Kevin McKeown (Brewster, N.Y./ Brewster) made 10 saves. Junior goalie Kevin Cepelak had nine saves for the Retrievers.

Binghamton travels to Hartford for a 1 p.m. conference game on Saturday.