America East Men's Soccer Champion Binghamton (11-2-7) will face Northeast Conference Champion Fairleigh Dickinson (14-4-1) Saturday (November 22) at 12 noon in the first round of the NCAA Division I Championship at Teaneck, N.J.
The winner of the Binghamton-Fairleigh Dickinson game travels to No. 7 St. Louis Wednesday (November 26) for the second round of the 48-team tournament.
The Bearcats, who recently completed their second season in America East men's soccer, advanced to the NCAA Championship by virtue of a 3-2 decision in penalty kicks over Northeastern on Saturday (November 15) at West Gym Field in Vestal, N.Y. The teams had played to a 1-1 draw through 90 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute, sudden-victory overtimes.
Binghamton has prided itself on outstanding defense all season. Stefan Gonet was named America East Rookie of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year while back Graham Munro was chosen the Defensive Player of the Year. Gonet saw a streak of 893:54 of shutout soccer come to an end when Northeastern scored with 9:59 left in the America East Championship game. Prior to that goal, Gonet had not allowed a score since a 2-2 tie with UMBC on October 8. The Bercats were 5-0-3 in that shutout stretch and enter the NCAA Championship with a 13-game unbeaten streak (7-0-6). Gonet ranks second in the nation with a 0.37 goals against average. He has 15 shutouts in 20 games.
Charles Darwah scored his team-leading seventh goal in the America East Championship game.
Binghamton and Fairleigh Dickinson have three common opponents. The Bearcats defeated Mount St. Mary's 2-0 in the Rider Tournament on August 31; beat Robert Morris, 1-0 at the St. Francis (Pa.) Tournament on September 12; and tied at St. Francis (Pa.), 0-0, on September 13. The Knights defeated Mount St. Mary's 3-2 in two overtimes at Teaneck on October 24; won at Robert Morris, 2-1 on October 5 and also defeated the Colonials 3-1 in the Northeast Conference semifinals at Johnstown, Pa. on November 14; and won at St. Francis (Pa.), 1-0 on October 3.