For Immediate Release: November 8, 2003
Contact: John Hartrick
Phone: 607-777-6800

Binghamton advances to America East men's soccer final
Bearcats blank Hartford 1-0; will host Northeastern for championship

Box Score

VESTAL, N.Y. - America East Defensive Player of the Year Graham Munro (Inverness, Scotland) used his offensive skills to carry second-seeded Binghamton (11-2-6) past third-seeded Hartford (11-9-2) in the semifinals of the America East Men's Soccer Championship, Saturday at West Gym Field. Munro converted a penalty kick with 10:04 remaining in the contest, and Binghamton's defense made it stand as the game-winner. With Northeastern's 1-0 win over top-seeded UMBC, the Bearcats earned the host role, and will meet the fifth-seeded Huskies for the America East championship at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 15. The winner receives the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship.

"Our defense has been our strength and we haven't gotten away from that," head coach Paul Marco said. "I thought we earned the result today. These guys are so special. And to host next weekend - to be at home for the final - we couldn't have asked for anything more."

Binghamton outshot the Hawks, 16-6, but were kept at bay by Hartford keeper Ryan Carr (Mamora, N.J.), who played a brilliant game. Carr, who made 10 saves, stopped a pair of point blank shots by junior forward Stephen Bruce (Buckie, Scotland) with 17 minutes remaining, and the final shot by freshman striker Bryan Arnault (Clay, N.Y.) banged off the post.

With just over 10 minutes remaining in regulation, Binghamton played a ball into the Hartford box, and junior forward Charles Darkwah (Toronto, Ontario) and Carr raced after the bouncing ball. As Darkwah leaped to head it, a fast-charging Carr lunged at the ball and instead struck Darkwah in the head. The collision left both players on the ground, and the infraction was whistled. Munro, who has quickly become Binghamton's primary penalty kick taker, nailed it to the lower left corner for his fourth goal of the season. In two years, Munro is a perfect 6-for-6 in penalty kick attempts.

"I've been practicing penalty kicks all week long just in case," Munro said. "I thought we deseved to win the game. We pummeled them in the second half. We just had to hold on for the last few minutes. It was brilliant."

Binghamton keeper Stefan Gonet (Refrewshire, Scotland) recorded four saves for his 15th shutout of the season - extending his school record. The America East Rookie of the Year and Goalie of the Year hasn't allowed a goal in 814 consecutive minutes of soccer, and the Bearcats still are the only team in the nation that hasn't allowed an opponent to score a first-half goal all season long.

Back on September 9, visiting Northeastern, the defending conference champions, defeated Binghamton 2-1 in the conference opener for both teams. Marco is eager to square off against the Huskies again.

"We couldn't have scripted it any better," he said. "Back in September when we played them at home and dropped the game, I thought ... 'I'd like to see them again'. And to be at home is just super."

NOTES
Binghamton extended the program's unbeaten streak to 12 games ... The Bearcats haven't lost since a 2-1 home defeat to Marist on September 20 ... Gonet hasn't allowed a goal since October 8 against UMBC and has posted eight consecutive shutouts.