The start to the fall 2021 season has gone just about as good as the Binghamton University Mens Soccer Team could hope. For the first time since 2016 the Bearcats finds themselves in the United Soccer Coaches (USC) Northeast Rankings in 6th. 

Binghamton’s 6-2 record matches the program’s best start since 2007 when they did the same. For a team that has piled up so many wins early this season, it may be surprising to learn that the Bearcats view the most pivotal moment of their season to date as their 7-0 loss to Syracuse on September 14th. Senior captain Noah Luescher says it was a defeat that forced the team to look itself in the mirror.  

“It was definitely a wake up call,” says Luescher. “I guess they had their best game in a long time and we had our worst one. It was a punch in the face, it was a wake up call and we just bounced back and stayed together throughout the whole process. We were very intense in training after that and I think it helped us bounce back in the next game and then go 2-0 after such a hard loss.” 

The Bearcats bounced back with shutout wins over Monmouth and perennial America East power Stony Brook which opened up conference play. Head Coach Paul Marco who is in his 20th year with the program says what separates this team from some in recent years is their chemistry on and off the pitch.  

“They absolutely enjoy being together,” says Marco. “Every guy has fun, they work hard and I think the toughness is probably an area that has improved over the last few weeks. We got a reality check a couple of games ago and I think that allowed us to take a closer look at how we were doing things.” 

Binghamton will go for their third straight win this weekend as they continue America East play on the road at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.