Team/individual accomplishments winter 2019

December 18, 2019

Wresting cracks FloWrestling top 25

The Binghamton University wrestling team is fresh off a strong start to the 2019-20 season and is getting noticed nationally. The Bearcats have been recognized in the FloWrestling team rankings, where they are currently tabbed at 25th.

The team saw six individuals place at the Jonathan Kaloust Bearcat Open, leading to a solid overall finish. Just above them sits Purdue, followed by Virginia Tech in the 23rd spot, who the Bearcats compete against later this season.

Individually, Lou DePrez shot to as high as second in the nation (FloWrestling) after his big win over the previous No. 2 Ben Darmstadt. That capped a 4-0 weekend as he won the 184-pound title and he is now tied with Donnie Vinson ‘13 for the highest rank in school history with that mark. He is also ranked No. 4 in the Intermat poll as well as No. 6 in the TrackWrestling poll.

Redshirt sophomore Zack Trampe is also coming off an undefeated weekend, where he cruised to the 133-pound final where he gutted out a 9-6 win by decision. He is ranked No. 10 in the Intermat poll and No. 24 in the TrackWrestling poll.

Lastly, Anthony Sparacio was recognized by Track-wrestling his solid start to the 2019-20 campaign. Sparacio went 3-1 on Sunday, including a major decision win. He is ranked No. 26 by the aforementioned TrackWrestling poll.

Softball releases 2020 schedule

The Binghamton softball program has released its 2020 schedule, which begins with a trip to Texas A&M for the Aggie Classic Feb. 14-16. The 50-game slate includes four in-season tournaments and nine home dates at the Bearcats Sports Complex.

“We are really excited about this upcoming season and feel good about the work that our players have put in this summer and fall,” head coach Michelle Johnston said. “They have some really good goals for this winter and preseason to make sure they are fully prepared for the competitive schedule we have put together.”

Also taking part in the Aggie Classic are St. John’s and Lamar. Texas A&M, meanwhile, advanced to the NCAA Regionals last year.

Two weeks later, Binghamton heads to Auburn for the Tiger Classic Feb. 28-March 1. The Tigers won 39 games last year and advanced to the NCAA Regionals. Minnesota, which won 46 games in 2019 and advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals, and Georgia Southern are the other two teams at the Tiger Classic.

The Bearcats return to the East CoasNo. 1 Michigan State (1-1) shot 57 percent in the first half, built a 31-point halftime cushion and went on to defeat visiting Binghamton men’s basketball (0-2) 100-47 Sunday night at boisterous and sold out Breslin Center (14,797). It was the first time in program history that BU played the nation’s top-ranked team.

The Bearcats trailed 11-5 before the Spartans ran off a 16-0 run spanning just 3:26. Down 29-7 halfway through the period, BU got it back to 15 points, 31-16, with a modest 9-2 run. The last three points came courtesy of a 3-pointer from sophomore guard Sam Sessoms with 8:22 remaining in the half. But top-ranked MSU doubled its lead in the final 5:49 to take a 54-23 cushion into intermission. t for the Hampton/Norfolk State Tournament March 6-8. In addition to the two host schools, Binghamton will face Drexel – which won 32 games last year, Wagner and Delaware.

The fourth and final in-season tournament is the Liberty Softball Challenge, which is set for March 13-15. In addition to the host Flames, which went 40-22 last year and won a National Invitational Softball Championship (NISC) Regional, Binghamton will also face Northern Illinois, UMass and Rhode Island.

For the fourth time in five years, the America East Tournament will take place at the Bearcats Sports Complex. The six-team double-elimination event is slated for May 6-9.

Men’s lacrosse releases 2020 schedule

Binghamton men’s lacrosse announced its 2020 schedule, in which head coach Kevin McKeown‘s squad will play eight non-conference games before they dive into their six game conference schedule.

The Bearcats open the season Feb. 8 against a strong Marist program. The Bearcats lead the series 5-4 against the Red Foxes and are looking to add to that to kickstart the season.

From there, BU will travel to the Carrier Dome to face Syracuse. Syracuse advanced to the NCAA tournament for the 39th time last season, falling in the first round to Loyola. BU has never beaten the upstate New York powerhouse program and looks to do so this season.

On Feb. 22, the Bearcats host their home opener against Lafayette. The Bearcats lost in a one goal game to the Leopards last year and will look to get revenge on their home turf.

The 6-game America East schedule opens the third week in March. The top 4 teams advance to the America East tournament, which begins with semifinal play in early May. The Bearcats have advanced to the America East tournament in 9 of their 18 seasons and look to make this year number 10.

Men’s basketball plays at No. 1 Michigan State

No. 1 Michigan State (1-1) shot 57 percent in the first half, built a 31-point halftime cushion and went on to defeat visiting Binghamton men’s basketball (0-2) 100-47 Sunday night at boisterous and sold out Breslin Center (14,797). It was the first time in program history that BU played the nation’s top-ranked team.

Trio of men’s soccer players honored

Junior midfielder Noah Luescher, freshman forward Oliver Svalander and redshirt freshman goalkeeper P.J. Parker have earned all-conference honors from the America East for the 2019 men’s soccer season. Luescher was named second-team all-conference and was a repeat selection on the All-Academic Team. Svalander and Parker, meanwhile, were chosen to the All-Rookie Team.

Luescher, who was named the America East Rookie of the Year in 2017, moved up to the second-team this season. He leads the Bearcats with five goals and 12 total points. Luescher was named the America East Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 2, after netting a career-high two goals against Drexel in the season opener on Aug. 30.

Luescher is the fifth Binghamton player to be named to the America East All-Academic team twice in his career. To be chosen to the All-Academic Team, a player must have been a starter or key reserve and have attained at least a 3.3 cumulative GPA.

Svalander has three goals and seven total points so far this season – all of which have come in the past six games. He was named the America East Rookie of the Week on Oct. 21 after netting a career-best two goals against Stony Brook on Oct. 19.

Parker, meanwhile, recorded 1.5 shutouts in the past three games – all of which came against America East opponents. He was named the America East Rookie of the Week on Oct. 28 following his solo shutout against UMBC on Oct. 26.

Three women’s soccer players earn all-conference honors

On the heels of a 10-win regular season, three Binghamton women’s soccer players have been honored by the America East. The all-conference teams were released on Monday and juniors Dora Hayes and Erin Theiller earned recognition, as did freshman Olivia McKnight. Hayes and Theiller were named to the second team and McKnight earned All-Rookie recognition. Theiller also was on the All-Academic Team.

After moving up from midfield to forward in 2019, Hayes earned her second all-conference honor in three seasons. She is tied for 10th in the conference with 12 points on four goals and four assists. She also is tied for third with three game-winning goals. Her other goal was a brilliant strike against Vermont that was featured on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10 Plays and has more than 16,000 views on social media. Hayes also received second team laurels as a freshman midfielder in 2017.

Theiller anchored a BU back line that produced eight shutouts in 17 regular season games. She also chipped in one goal and two assists as a threat on set pieces. The honor is her second such after being on the second team as a freshman in 2017. Theiller also was named to the All-Academic Team on the strength of her 3.90 grade-point average in biology.

McKnight has started all 17 games and leads the team with 14 points on five goals and four assists. She ranks fifth in the conference in points and was the Rookie of the Week selection twice. As the highest-scoring freshman in the conference, McKnight should receive strong consideration for Rookie of the Year honors when that award is announced on Monday.

Cross country shines at America East Championship

Sophomore Aziza Chigatayeva, senior Jessica Cueva-Scarpelli and freshman Ryan Guerci were each named all-conference, highlighting Binghamton’s performance at the America East Cross Country Championships, which were held on Saturday morning at Albany. In the team standings the Bearcat men’s and women’s squads both placed fifth out of nine teams.

Chigatayeva placed fourth overall in the women’s 5,000-meter race with a time of 17:04.95. In the process, she earned first-team all-conference honors (which was awarded to places 1-7) for the second year in a row.

Cueva-Scarpelli was 12th overall with a time of 17:41. She was named second-team all-conference (awarded to places 8-14). It marks the first time in her career that Cueva Scarpelli has been named all-conference in cross country.

The two all-conference selections represent the most for the Binghamton women’s team since 2005, when Katie Radzik and Stacy Kramer was honored. In addition, Chigatayeva is now the third Bearcat women’s runner to be named America East all-conference twice in her career, joining Radzik (2005 and 2006) and Kramer (2004 and 2005).

Guerci, meanwhile, was 14th overall in the men’s 8,000-meter race, clocking a time of 24:30. In the process, he becomes the first Binghamton men’s freshman to be named all-conference since Jeff Martinez finished 10th in 2009.

Women’s basketball off to a 9-0 start, plays at No. 25 Miami

Binghamton (9-0) won 59-56 at Cornell in its most recent game on Dec. 5. Senior guard Kai Moon scored a team-best 15 points - including the game-winning shot with 15 seconds left in regulation. Senior guard Carly Boland had 12 points and a game-high five assists while senior forward Karlee Krchnavi added 10 points and six rebounds.
Moon ranks first in the America East and is third in the nation with 23.2 points per game. She is also fifth in the nation with 3.56 three-point field goals per contest. Boland is second on the team and No. 10 in the conference with 11.4 points per game, is tied for seventh with 3.8 assists per game and is tied for fifth with 0.9 blocks per contest. Sophomore forward Annie Ramil, meanwhile, is tied for seventh in the America East with 6.8 rebounds per game.
Miami (5-3) was ranked No. 25 nationally in the Dec. 9 Associated Press Poll and was receiving votes in the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association (WCBA) Poll. Playing out of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), the Hurricanes lost their most recent game to then No. 14 Indiana 58-45. Beatrice Mompremier leads Miami with 17.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.
Miami leads the all-time series 2-0, having won 72-37 at home on Dec. 6, 2008 as well as 68-52 at the Events Center on Dec. 19, 2009. The Binghamton men’s team, however, won 79-74 at Miami back on Dec. 20, 2006.
As a team, Binghamton leads the America East with 73.0 points per game. In addition, the Bearcats rank fifth in the nation with an .796 free throw percentage.
During its 19-year NCAA Division I history, Binghamton has faced three nationally-ranking teams and six other squads that were receiving votes in the Top 25 Polls. The Bearcats faced No. 24 Hartford during the 2009-10 season as well as both second-ranked Notre Dame and No. 16 Marquette last year.
Binghamton is off to a 9-0 start for the first time since the 1998-99 season. The Bearcats have been receiving votes in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Poll the past two weeks. In addition, they were named one of the Top 5 Under the Radar teams in the nation by NCAA.com.

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