BALTIMORE, MD. ? No. 3 seeded Binghamton University used two goals in each half to defeat No. 2 UMBC, 4-1, in semifinal action of the 2005 America East Men’s Soccer Championship. The Bearcats advance to the league title game for the third-straight season and will take on No. 1 Stony Brook on Saturday at 7 p.m.

The Bearcats are just the third team in America East Conference history to advance to three consecutive tournament finals. Boston went five times in a row (1993-97) and Northeastern went to the 2001-03 title games. The conference tournament started in 1989.

Binghamton juniors Joey Neilson (one goal, one assist) and Peter Sgueglia (two assists) led the Bearcats to the victory. In the past four games, Neilson has scored three goals and added an assist. He has scored in two straight contests and now ranks second on the team with five goals. Sgueglia has a goal and two assists in the past three games.

Neilson set up Binghamton's first goal of the night when he got the ball off a failed clear by UMBC in their defensive end. He then fired a pass to sophomore forward Matt Narode who scored just 5:29 into the game. It was his team-high seventh goal of the season.

At the 34:42 mark, Neilson took matters into his own hands, firing a shot from 12 yards out into the net to make the score 2-0. The assist was credited to Sgueglia.

In the second half, UMBC wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. Powell Cucchiella shot the ball from three yards out just 57 seconds after play was started. David Feazell was credited with the assist.

With time running out in the second half, the Bearcats iced the game with two goals in the final 1:09. First, freshman midfielder Cody Germain took a cross from Sgueglia and shot the ball in from six yards out. That made the score 3-1 at the 88:51 mark. Then, with just 25 seconds left, freshman back Barry Neville scored an empty-net goal from 40 yards out.

NOTES: Binghamton's last two appearances in the America East finals have been decided in a penalty kick shootout. Binghamton tied Northeastern 1-1 in 2003 but won the penalty kick shootout 3-2. Last season, however, the Bearcats tied Boston 2-2 but lost the shootout 5-3... The four goals represents the Bearcats highest total in an America East Tournament game.

SCORING
Binghamton - Matt Narode (Joey Nielson), 5:29
Binghamton - Nielson (Peter Squeglia), 34:42
UMBC - Powell Cucchiella (David Feazell), 45:57
Binghamton - Cody Germain (Squeglia), 88:51
Binghamton - Barry Neville (unassisted), 89:35

SHOTS
Binghamton: 13
UMBC: 6

CORNER KICKS
Binghamton: 3
UMBC: 3

SAVES
Binghamton: Ryan Bertoni (90:00, 2 saves)
UMBC: Steve King (90:00, 4 saves)