Men’s Soccer Triumphs Over Binghamton on Senior Night

By Carter Schum | October 27, 2025

Men’s soccer celebrated senior night on Saturday (10/25)

Photo Credit: Brent Warzocha | UAlbany Athletics  

On Saturday (10/25), the University at Albany Men’s soccer team bested the Binghamton Bearcats 2-0. 

Early on in the match, neither team was able to generate many chances, as the majority of the play was kept to the middle portion of the pitch. 

The Bearcats were able to draw a pair of cornerkicks in succession in the 8th minute; however, they were unable to capitalize on these opportunities as the Great Dane defense cleared both. 

UAlbany nearly scored on a corner kick of their own, as Rodrigo Hermelo fired a header that went just wide of the left post for a goal kick. 

Binghamton had a good chance to get on the board in the 15th minute, as Alex Balkey fired a shot from his left foot outside the box. However this would go over the crossbar and out of play. 

The match took an uptick in physicality as the first half progressed, with numerous fouls being called on both squads as neither wanted to give the other any room to create chances. 

The Bearcats were issued their first yellow card of the game in the 27th minute when Rio Onwumere tackled Ivar Gissurarson violently from behind in the middle of the pitch. Gissurarson appeared shaken up but continued to play. 

UAlbany would strike first just 3 minutes later, as Caleb Vallance fired home a beauty of a strike from his right foot outside the box into the side of the net to give the Great Danes the 1-0 advantage.

Despite this, Binghamton continued to put pressure on the Great Dane defense who defended the wave of pressure well, in no small part to their effective communication. 

The remaining part of the first half saw both teams have chances to find the back of the net but neither coming within threatening range. The physicality continued on however, with several fouls being called on both sides. 

The second half began with more of the same physical action featured in the first half, as neither squad was keen to play fast. 

Binghamton nearly leveled the match early in the 2nd half but Andrej Krivokapic was able to make an impressive save off of a shot from up close to knock the ball out of play to keep the Great Dane lead.

The momentum swung in favor of UAlbany as the 2nd half progressed, and the Great Danes were able to control possession and have an extended spell in the Binghamton penalty area. However they were unable to find another goal. 

Ivar Gissurarson almost scored an amazing goal in the 65th minute as he fired a bullet of a shot with his right foot, but a Bearcat defender got a piece of the shot, and the ball deflected wide. 

The match continued to be played at a very slow pace throughout the majority of the second half. The Great Danes had a few potential opportunities to score, however they were called offsides twice to negate said chances. 

UAlbany would finally break through for their second goal of the game, as Alexander Clive deposited a perfect pass from Roko Branko Mrvelj into the bottom left corner of the Binghamton net to make the score 2-0 Great Danes in the 83rd minute. 

The Bearcats would attempt to get a goal back in the dying minutes of the game, although they were unsuccessful in doing so, and the Great Danes closed out the 2-0 victory. 

With the win, UAlbany improved to 5-5-4 overall and 3-1-1 in America East play. The Bearcats fell to 4-11 overall and 0-5 in America East play.