2018 Men’s Lacrosse Year in Review: #63 Binghamton Bearcats

With the 2018 college lacrosse season complete, it’s time to start looking back at how all 71 teams did during the season, as well as what to expect from each squad for 2019.

We started looking ahead to 2019 with a few of our team recaps last week and continued things this past week with Marist, Siena, and Hartford.

So with that, let’s continue the recaps!

#63 Binghamton Bearcats

Conference: America East
2018 Record: 4-11 (1-5 in America East play)
Head coach: Kevin McKeown (2nd Year)

Statistical Leaders

Goals: Thomas McAndrew (22)
Assists: William Talbott-Shere (10)
Points: Thomas McAndrew (28)
Faceoffs: Austin Macchi (105-of-228; 46.1%)
Ground balls: Austin Macchi (44)
Caused turnovers: Sal Fama and Tom Galgano (14)
Goals against average: Kevin Carbone (10.78 GAA)
Save percentage: Kevin Carbone (52.2%)

Personnel Losses

Key seniors departing: A Thomas McAndrew (22 Gs, 6 As, 13 GBs), M Stephen Petrelli (19 Gs, 6 As), A Sean Gilroy (17 Gs, 2 As), FOGO Austin Macchi (46.1% faceoff draws, 44 GBs), M Joe Grossi (9 Gs, 2 As, 20 GBs)
Senior scoring departing: 88 of 173 points (50.9%)
Senior starts lost: 50 of 150 (33.3%)

Season Summary

After an unbelievable 11-5 record in 2017 thanks to the offensive production of Tom Moore and a solid defense led by goalie Tanner Cosens and defenseman Garrett Waldron, the Bearcats could not use that momentum heading into 2018, finishing with four wins for the third time in four years.

In 2017, Binghamton gave up 10 or more goals in only three games. This year, that happened 11 times, including giving up 21 goals in the first two games of the season, as well as other games where the team gave up 18 and 17 goals.

The Bearcats began the season 0-6 and looking like one of the worst teams in college lacrosse. But a double overtime victory against Delaware gave Kevin McKeown’s squad a little boost, as the team would win three of their next five games after that. However, Binghamton could not win their final three games against America East foes UMBC, Albany, and Stony Brook.

Only eight players finished the season with 10 or more points. Six players scored in double-digit figures including Thomas McAndrew, the lone Bearcat that scored more than 20 goals (22). Freshman attackman William Talbott-Shere was the lone player to record at least 10 assists, hitting that number right on the dot.

The defense took a hit early in the season with Zach Barrett suffering a season-ending injury. Dan Motts was the only returning starting defenseman, but only recorded three caused turnovers. Sal Fama was the team’s top defenseman after missing last season with a knee injury. The Bearcats also saw Tom Galgano and Kyle Tiernan get some time, while LSM Tim Mattiace was the team’s top long pole.

After a rough start to the season, the goaltending situation was figured out as Kevin Carbone overtook Robert Martin and backstopped the team for the latter portion of the season, including all four of the team’s wins.

Looking Ahead

A year after losing Moore, Binghamton will have to replace more production. Unlike Moore’s situation where it was only one person, the Bearcats lose four of the eight scorers that hit double-digits in points, including three of their top four scorers. Talbott-Shere and Sean Makar had good freshman seasons while Joe Licata returns for his senior season. Griffin Konen will also look for a bounce-back year after scoring just a goal and three assists in 10 games.

Barrett returning to the defense will help Carbone in goal tremendously. If Fama stays for his redshirt-senior year, the Bearcat defense will be a very strong unit in the America East. At the faceoff X, sophomore Brendan Patterson will be the lead man to replace Austin Macchi as the primary guy taking faceoffs.

Here’s who the Bearcats will be adding to their roster for next year.*

*Compiled from a multitude of websites. Schools usually officially announce their recruiting class during the fall semester.