Box Score

NIAGARA, N.Y. — Junior midfielder Michael Austin (Oneonta, N.Y.) fired in a shot with just over 10 minutes remaining, lifting the Binghamton Bearcats (4-4-1) to a 2-1 win over the Niagara Purple Eagles (1-7) in a non-conference men’s soccer game on Thursday afternoon. The win extended the Bearcats unbeaten streak to four games (3-0-1).

Freshman forward Kyle Antos (Endicott, N.Y.) fired a one-timer at the 79:48 mark, and Austin delivered his second goal of the season. Earlier in the game, freshman defender Graham Munro (Inverness, Scotland) scored on a penalty kick, giving Binghamton a 1-0 lead at the 20:17 mark. Niagara tied the game just nine minutes later, when Michael Burger headed in a corner kick.

“We didn’t play as well as we have been playing,” said BU head coach Paul Marco. “That is the sign of a good team, however, when you can not play great and still get a positive result.”

The Bearcats played their first game without starting defender Rodney Rigg (South Fallsburg, N.Y.), who broke a bone in his foot during practice this week. Freshman Luc Vallone (Hoosick Falls, N.Y.) filled in for Rigg.

The Purple Eagles outshot Binghamton 15-11, but were only able to convert on the one goal, as BU goalkeeper Ian Wendel (Sparta, N.J.) made six saves. Niagara keeper Dan O’Shea stopped several potential BU goals to maintain the tie until Austin’s 80th-minute winner.

“We had several excellent opportunities to score,” Marco said. “However, their goalie came up with some fantastic saves, including two that were outrageous.”

The Bearcats will continue conference play this weekend when they travel to Boston University for a 1 p.m. game on Sunday. The Terriers (4-3-0) have been ranked as high as ninth in the nation this season. The Bearcats next home game is October 12 against Vermont at 1 p.m.