Men’s soccer team loses to Big Ten powers

The men’s soccer team gave two nationally ranked teams all they could handle at the Penn State Soccer Classic on Sept. 10-11, falling to seventh-ranked Ohio State, 1-0, and No. 11 Penn State, 4-3.

Penn State’s Corey Hertzog scored the game-winning goal in the 84th minute. Prior to Hertzog’s heroics, the Bearcats rallied from a 3-1 deficit to tie the game in the 69th minute. Senior back Kyle Manscuk struck in the 64th minute and freshman forward Luke Halberg, who had a pair of goals, deadlocked the game at 3-3 just under five minutes later.

Halberg is the first Binghamton freshman to record a two-goal game since Adam Chavez against Niagara in 2004. Sophomore forward Adam Whitehead finished with a career-high two assists, while sophomore forward Jake Keegan got the assist on the game-tying goal.

“I thought we played better as the weekend went on,” head coach Paul Marco said. “Luke was fantastic today and Adam was a difference-maker out there.”

Binghamton’s three goals represented its highest scoring output against a nationally ranked opponent in its nine-year Division I history.

The Bearcats lost the tournament opener on a penalty kick in the 41st minute. Over the final 45 minutes, Binghamton outshot the Buckeyes, 7-6.