George Washington Strikes Three Times to Down Binghamton 3-1 in Season Opener Louis Crofts' second-half brace seals victory after Colonials weather early Bearcats pressure
George Washington University opened their 2025 campaign in emphatic fashion, defeating Binghamton University 3-1 in a thrilling season opener that showcased the Colonials' clinical finishing and tactical resilience.
The Colonials wasted little time asserting their dominance, breaking through in the 9th minute through forward Babacar Fall. The goal came after a sustained period of pressure that saw George Washington force three corner kicks in the opening eight minutes. Fall's strike, assisted by the Russ brothers – Connor and Joel – was a well-worked team move that found the bottom right corner, giving the Colonials an early advantage they would never relinquish.
The opening exchanges suggested a one-sided affair, with George Washington controlling possession and creating the better chances. Tommaso Lami proved particularly dangerous in the first half, registering four shots despite failing to find the target. The Italian forward's movement and link-up play caused constant problems for Binghamton's backline, forcing defensive adjustments that would prove crucial as the match progressed.
Binghamton showed glimpses of their attacking potential through D.T. Megliola, who led the Bearcats' shot count with three attempts and two on target. However, George Washington goalkeeper Tom Macauley proved equal to the task, making four crucial saves to preserve his team's advantage heading into the break.
The second half began with both teams making tactical adjustments, but it was George Washington who struck the decisive blow in the 59th minute. Louis Crofts, who had been relatively quiet in the first half, found his range with a precise left-footed effort into the bottom left corner, assisted by midfielder Nico Medina. The goal effectively killed off Binghamton's hopes of a comeback.
Binghamton refused to surrender, however, and their persistence paid dividends in the 74th minute when Alex Balkey pulled one back with a spectacular left-footed strike into the top right corner. The midfielder's goal, assisted by substitute Ryan Gillon, briefly ignited hopes of an unlikely comeback and demonstrated the Bearcats' fighting spirit.
Those hopes were extinguished just 81 seconds later when Crofts completed his brace with another clinical finish. The English forward's second goal, assisted by substitute Omar Alsabagh, showcased George Washington's squad depth and ability to maintain their attacking threat throughout the 90 minutes.
The statistics tell the story of a closely contested match despite the scoreline. George Washington edged the shot count 15-13 and held a slight advantage in shots on goal 7-5, but Binghamton's five corner kicks to George Washington's three suggested the Bearcats created their share of dangerous situations.
Defensively, both teams showed discipline, with no red cards issued despite a physical encounter that saw three yellow cards shown to George Washington players and two to Binghamton. The Colonials' Colin Prendergast, Nico Medina, and Babacar Fall all found their way into the referee's notebook, while Binghamton's Alex Balkey and Simon Knuewe were cautioned.
For George Washington, the victory provides an ideal start to their campaign, with Crofts' two-goal performance highlighting the team's attacking depth. The Colonials' ability to score three goals from just four shots on target demonstrates clinical finishing that will serve them well throughout the season.
Binghamton, despite the defeat, showed character in their response to going two goals down and will take encouragement from Balkey's excellent individual performance in midfield.
Key Players
- Louis Crofts (George Washington) - Scored crucial second-half brace with clinical finishing, converting both shots on target
- Alex Balkey (Binghamton) - Lone goalscorer with spectacular strike, played full 90 minutes and won crucial fouls in midfield
- Babacar Fall (George Washington) - Opened scoring with early goal and caused constant problems before tactical substitution