Vestal, NY--Defending America East champion Binghamton built a 2-0 lead, and fought off a second half UMBC rally, as the Bearcats defeated the Retrievers, 3-1, in an America East contest. Binghamton improves to 9-1-5 overall, 3-1-2 in league play, while UMBC falls to 6-5-2, 2-4 in the conference.
The Retrievers are 0-4 on the road in conference play and are winless (0-4-1) in their last five road contests. Two of UMBC's final three America East games are at home, including Saturday's contest vs. Northeastern.
After Binghamton scored a pair of goals in the first half, UMBC struck in the 69th minute as sophomore midfielder David Feazell converted a feed from Powell Cucchiella. It was Feazell's third goal and Cucchiella's ninth assist of the season. The Retrievers appeared to have scored the tying goal a short while later, while senior forward George Bakoulas was called offsides as he appeared to convert a Cucchiella cross.
The Bearcats' Stephen Bruce scored his second goal of the game to finalize the scoring with 6:03 to play. UMBC goalkeeper Andy Marchica was credited with a career high 11 saves in the contest, played in muddy conditions. The Bearcats were assessed only three fouls in the game.
