Heston's 17 Saves Leads Binghamton Over Colgate for Fourth Straight Victory
from press release
HAMILTON, N.Y. -- For the second straight year,
the Binghamton men's lacrosse team (4-3) edged the Colgate Raiders
(4-3) by the score of 7-6 in a non-conference game. The Bearcats
built a 6-3 lead heading into the final frame, but needed to fend
off a late charge by the Raiders to preserve the narrow victory at
Andy Kerr Stadium Tuesday night.
The Colgate-Binghamton rivalry added another thriller to its
nine-year history as the one-goal margin of victory represents the
fifth time in the last seven contests that a game was decided by
one goal. Last year, the Bearcats prevailed over No. 20 Colgate at
the Bearcats Sports Complex by the same 7-6 margin.
"It was a defensive battle the whole way," head coach Ed Stephenson
said. "Both defenses played really well and this is the type of
game we've come to expect with Colgate after all of our one and
two-goal games over the years. They made a nice comeback when we
failed to clear it a couple times, but when it counted Heston came
up huge when we needed him and Springer came up big with the
game-winner."
The win marks the first four-game winning streak for the Bearcats
since 2006. Meanwhile, BU thwarted Colgate's four-game overall
winning streak and its four-game home winning streak, dating back
to last season.
With Binghamton clinging to a 7-6 lead and possession of the ball
with 1:50 to play, Colgate was forced to leave an empty net in
exchange for an extra defender. The adequate pressure caused a
Binghamton turnover, but the Raiders couldn't muster a game-tying
goal against a stingy Bearcat defense over the final 90
seconds.
Colgate held a commanding 39-23 shot advantage, including a 17-3
differential in the fourth quarter. However, the Bearcats converted
two of its three shots in the quarter to account for the 7-6
final.
The Bearcats made two crucial stops a man-down late in the fourth
quarter and held Colgate without a goal on all three of its
extra-man possessions.
Sophomore Kraig Heston, the America East Player of the Week, picked
up his fourth consecutive win in goal as he notched a program
record 17 saves that stifled a Colgate offense that entered the
contest averaging nearly 10 goals per game. Heston raised his
sparkling save percentage -- which was tabbed ninth in the country
prior to tonight's game -- to 66.3 on the strength of a career-best
effort.
Sophomore attackman Matt Springer collected his eighth career hat
trick to lead the Bearcats with a game-high four goals, raising his
season total to 19. He scored the eventual game-winner with exactly
two minutes remaining in the contest. Classmate Tyler Perrelle was
streaking down the left alley when he found Springer in front of
the goal for the score.
Ben McCabe supplied half of Colgate's offense to pace the team with
a hat trick.
Freshman Michael Antinozzi converted a man-up goal that broke a
scoreless tie 29 seconds into the second quarter.
Springer extended his consecutive game scoring streak to 21
straight with a point early in the second quarter. In an extra man
opportunity, Springer posted up in the middle of the Colgate zone
and received a feed from Perrelle. Springer pivoted and fired over
his right shoulder to convert the man-up score.
The Bearcats managed a 2-1 advantage by the break. BU capitalized
on four Colgate penalties over the first two quarters as they
posted a 2-4 mark in extra-man opportunities. On the defensive
side, Binghamton held its opponent to two goals or less by the half
for the fourth consecutive game.
Peter Baum opened up the scoring in the third quarter with an
unassisted goal to knot the game at 2-2. Two minutes later,
Springer rattled off two goals in a span of eight seconds for a 4-2
advantage. He found separation on a one-on-one drive and rifled an
overhand rocket for the score. A face-off violation on the ensuing
possession allowed junior John Clark to feed an open Springer for a
goal eight seconds later.
Junior Ben Waldron capped a 3-0 run for Binghamton with his first
goal of the season off the feed from Shane Warner in the final 90
seconds of the third quarter.
Each teams traded goals in the opening three minutes of the final
frame. Unforced turnovers and failed clears hurt the Bearcats down
the stretch as Colgate managed three consecutive goals to knot the
score at 6-6.
The Bearcats never trailed in the contest but broke ties at 1-1,
2-2 and 6-6 to secure the win.
Binghamton will make another trip to Upstate New York next Tuesday
to face the Siena Saints at 3 p.m.
NOTES: Heston's 17 saves is the most by any
Bearcat in the school's 10-year Division I history ... Dan Solazzo
held the previous record of 16 saves, set against Lafayette (Feb.
27, 2010) ... Binghamton matched its second-longest winning streak
in school history ... The 2006 squad posted four straight wins
between March 4-March 18
