Binghamton University Field Hockey Club
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| Binghamton University Field Hockey Club |
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| Full name | Binghamton Bearcats | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nickname(s) | BU Bearcats |
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| Founded | 1990s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | East Gym, Binghamton, New York, US |
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| Manager |  Craig Dube |
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| League | New York State | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Binghamton University Field Hockey Club is one amongst the many student run club sport teams at Binghamton University. It is categorized as a co-ed competitive team, which competes against other university club sport teams within New York. Similar to other Binghamton University clubs, it is sponsored and funded with the help of Students Association and fund-raisers organized by the field hockey club members. Although it originated in the mid-1990's, it was inactive for a few years before being active again in the year 2003. Since then it has progressed positively in every single year and has also won the New York State Championships for the year 2006. Following the Binghamton tradition of sports teams, it plays under the name of Binghamton Bearcats and sports green jerseys for its away games and white jerseys for home games. Presently, the team is at a major disadvantage, as it does not have its own astroturf or artificial turf field and practices on grass fields behind the athletic track of the East Gym. The team practices at the indoor courts located in the East Gym during winter season.
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[edit] 2006 Season
This season really proved to be a great beginning to an upcoming field hockey dynasty at Binghamton. The club was dealt with a severe blow when it lost its founding president, Melissa Cline and a few other dedicated members to the graduating class of 2006. However, it got a few new recruits from the incoming freshmen class that proved to be loyal members and helped improve the roster and ultimately the season's results. Despite the poor weather conditions at Binghamton, which was not conducive for open play, the club was able to maintain a decent practice schedule meeting four times a week and in the process built a good chemistry amongst them on the field that later caused many major upsets. The team adapted a 4-4-2 formation to good effect, with one central midfielder doubling up and moving upfield as often as possible to support the forward pair, while the other playing a "holding role", shielding the defence; the two wide midfield players move up the flanks to the goal line in attacks and yet also protect the fullback wide defenders. The team had an overall record of 5-0-1 and is currently on an unbeaten streak of five games, that includes five games away from home. Two home games were abandoned due to bad weather at Binghamton.
[edit] v/s Ithaca College
The season opener was an exciting game played at home, as the team played hard against Ithaca College only to lose 2-1. However the team had high expectations with its new and experienced players along with its dedicated returning players.
[edit] v/s Cornell Big Reds
The second game turned out to be a cracker as they faced Cornell University Big Reds, one of the powerhouses of field hockey clubs, away from home on the astroturf for an overall win of 3-1. Cornell field hockey players kept licking their wounds after being torn apart by the Bearcats and were frustrated by Binghamton's ability to see open players and their dynamic stick skills under pressure. Binghamton players were able to dominate the proceedings right from the beginning even while playing on turf with limited practice time on turf, as the Bearcats presently do not have a turf field of their own. The only goal that Cornell scored was actually an illegal goal, as the ball rose above the boards on the first hit during a penalty corner. Although, the goal stood for the game, the referee who officiated the game later confessed her mistake during another game (against Cortland), which she happened to officiate for Binghamton. This win secured a major accomplishment and a positive outlook for the 2006 season.
[edit] v/s Cortland Red Dragons
The Bearcats braved intense wind, horizontal snow and freezing rain for an away game at SUNY Cortland again on artificial turf, but looked calm and collected as they dispatched the Cortland Red Dragons 5-0. The Bearcats shone on every front with the strikers always keeping the opposition defenders busy, Center midfielders dribbling the ball into the opposition's territory, defenders making some amazing stick saves and holding up for just 10 shots on goal and the goalkeeper making four saves for the shutout. Bearcats fell to Cortland last season in a tournament at Buffalo, so coming back to win this one was a huge success for the team.
[edit] New York State Championships'06
The team finally headed into the much awaited New York State Field Hockey League Playoffs in Syracuse seeded second owing to their only loss of the season against Ithaca in the Central Division. Ithaca however dropped out late in the tournament gifting the number one seed to the Bearcats a window. Arriving in Orange territory, Binghamton first had to play Cortland again, this time in a seven v/s seven set up because Cortland could not muster more of a roster. With the momentum of the 5-0 win over Cortland the previous weekend, Binghamton felt they were on their way to the semifinals, as they dominated much like the last game from the beginning coming out on top with a huge win, 7-1.
The next game was against Syracuse Orange who had knocked out Le Moyne College in the preliminaries. Syracuse after having time to rest and watch Binghamton's game against Cortland closely came out strong and had a deep roster, keeping fresh legs on the field all the time while the Bearcats only had two substitute players. The game started off at a very fast pace and Syracuse quickly went ahead with a two goal lead within the first 5 minutes. The Bearcats however struck in quick succession in the next 5 minutes to bring back the scores on level, while reminding the Orange players about the determined Bearcats. The game slowed down with both the teams playing cautiously to avoid letting in more goals. However Binghamton struck just before the half-time break to go ahead with a 4-2 lead. Early in the second half, Binghamton struck again virtually killing every hope of a comeback for Syracuse. But, their determination combined with fresh legs on the field saw them pull back two goals to finally end an intense game in favor of Binghamton, 5-4. Binghamton shined on taking advantage of corner plays and working the ball up the line in transitions, thus eventually being crowned the Central Division champions.
After playing two high tempo games the team had to make the trip up to SUNY Buffalo to face the Western Division champions Buffalo Bulls, thus having the long hours of driving wear on the players physically and mentally. Also the roster decreased in size by two, making the final total equal to eleven, the exact number necessary to play! The Bulls advantage of playing the final game on their home field turf along with a deep strong roster counted for nothing, as they were caught off guard with the Bearcats scoring first. At the half Binghamton lead the game, 1- 0 and had kept control of the ball the entire half. Buffalo started out very confidently but got frustrated as the game progressed with limited shots on goal and the Binghamton players stamped their authority on the game. Buffalo was unable to breakdown the Bearcats defense play but were awarded a controversial penalty stroke as a scramble occurred in the middle of the second half in front of the Binghamton goal. This did not rattle the team or change their play and after a time-out the Bearcats came out with more energy to seal the game in their favor, 2-1. Buffalo tried to rally with two corner plays but were unable to penetrate the Binghamton defense and in the end, it was the heart that the Bearcats possessed that won the game along with their brilliant hockey. This mentality is proven even stronger by the final cheer the Bearcats used to raise the spirits of the team, Heart Wins Games. It was a great game because every member of the Bearcat team contributed in a positive way; they had no weaknesses that could be targeted.
This was the first League Championship that the Field Hockey Team has won and it is a tremendous accomplishment because of the young age of the club as well as its players. Furthermore the teams that enter in the championship are usually club teams from powerhouse Division One field hockey programs, whose players are previous varsity athletes or are aspiring to make the Division one teams. Binghamton was considered even with their record the underdogs of the tournament but their sheer hard work and some brilliant hockey skills have presented them a title to uphold and defend with honor.
[edit] Squad Members
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