Football runs wild, gets back on track with 47-23 win over Southern Virginia University
By Brandy Thurston, Director of Sports Information
(Buena Vista, Va. – Oct. 25, 2014) The Morrisville State College football team used a 34 point- combined second and third quarter to get by hosts Southern Virginia University by a 47-23 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) decision Saturday afternoon in Buena Vista, Virginia.
The win improves the Mustangs to 6-2 overall, 4-1 in conference play, while the Knights still seek their first win, dropping to 0-7, 0-4 within the NJAC.
Morrisville State accumulated 586 yards total offense on the day, with nearly half coming in the running game as they powered 284 yards total gain on the ground. Lemar Johnson (Ossining, N.Y.) led the Mustangs with 117 yards on 11 carries, rushing for two scores, while running back Cristian Pena (Ridgewood, N.Y.) added another 108 on 20 carries for two touchdowns.
Johnson added 302 yards in the air, completing 18-of-27 passes and throwing for two touchdown strikes, one to wide receiver Anthony Gray (Smallwood, N.Y.) who posted a team best 130 yards on seven catches for a touchdown score. Anthony Mella (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added a 99 yard receiving game on two receptions, including a 95-yard score that came midway through the third quarter from Johnson.
Junior linebacker Colton Evans (West Winfield, N.Y.) led the Mustangs defensively, posting eight solo stops on the day to go along with his one sack that set SVU back 16 yards. Caleb Wright (Cortland, N.Y.) added seven tackles on the day, all solo stops.
A majority of the Knights offense came in the passing game as quarterback Mitch Stevenson connected on 21-of-47 passes for 279 yards and one touchdown score. Kyler Harris led the receiving unit with 85 yards on seven catches, while teammate Chris Harper added 63 on five receptions for a score.
Jerry Washington led Southern Virginia in the running game, posting a net 59 yards on 21 attempts as the Knights were held to 117 yards rushing on the day.
Matthew Gregory posted seven solo tackles to lead the defensive efforts for the hosts, while teammate Keaton Epps added another six on the day.
Morrisville State got off to a slow start in the first quarter, leading by a narrow 6-5 margin on a three-yard rushing score from Johnson with just under two minutes to go in the quarter before exploding in the second with three straight scores to claim a 26-8 halftime lead.
A 26-yard field goal by Kieren Phillips early on in the second put the hosts ahead 8-6, but Morrisville State took advantage of the first SVU turnover of the day, an interception by Shane Carroll (Morrisville, N.Y.) that was returned into Knight territory. Just four plays later, Johnson scrambled 36-yards into the end zone for the 12-8 Mustang lead to cap off the five play, 45-yard drive for the score.
The Knights had a chance to cut it to one on their next possession, but the 27 yard field goal attempt sailed wide left and gave possession back to the Mustangs where they added to their lead with a four-yard rushing score by Pena for the 26-8 advantage at the half.
In the third, Morrisville State picked up where they left off and scored on their first possession of the second half, completing the 78-yard drive in 11 plays with a 17-yard rushing score by Pena, his second of the day.
After forcing SVU to a quick three-and-out, Morrisville State regained possession on their own five yard line and in one play, the Mustangs increased the lead to 32, as Johnson found Mella wide open for the 95-yard scoring completion.
On the ensuing Southern Virginia drive, the Knights moved into Mustang territory, but on third down Evans sacked Stevenson for a loss of 16 yards and forced the hosts to punt the ball away, as they registered their smallest drive of the afternoon, just three yards.
The hosts were able to post their first score since early in the second quarter midway through the final stanza, and forced a Mustang three-and-out to regain possession, but the Morrisville State defensive unit again came up huge.
Chad Dorrance (Cazenovia, N.Y.) stepped in front of a Bryan Phillips pass at the Knights 45 and returned the ball down to the 17, where two plays later, Darrel West (Syracuse, N.Y.) capped off the two-play drive with a four-yard rushing score and 47-16 Mustang lead.
Southern Virginia added one final score with seconds remaining on the clock, but it wasn’t enough as Morrisville State earned the conference win.
Women falter in first half, drop heartbreaker to Cobleskill
Kelsey Schwan, Assistant Director of Sports Information
(Morrisville, NY – Oct. 25, 2014) The Mustang women’s soccer team (9-7, 6-6 NEAC) fell to NEAC opponent Cobleskill (4-13, 4-8 NEAC) on the road Saturday afternoon. With only one goal scored in the first half, the Mustangs were unable to close the gap for the duration of the game.
In the 26th minute, Cobleskill scored their first and only goal of the game off a direct kick from 20 yards out. Morrisville outshot Cobleskill 14-5 throughout the game, but was unable to capitalize on their opportunities.
Angela Marriot (Peekskill, N.Y) finished the game with four saves and one goal allowed.
Morrisville State is awaiting confirmation of the seeding for the NEAC Championship tournament.
Volleyball falls in hard fought match against Keuka College
By Kelsey Schwan, Assistant Director of Sports Information
(Morrisville, NY – Oct. 25, 2014) The Morrisville State College women’s volleyball (7-19, 5-8 NEAC) traveled to Keuka College (13-12, 10-1 NEAC) for their final match of the season. The Mustangs fought hard against the Wolfpack, but were unable to take any sets away, finishing the day 0-3.
The Mustangs battled the Wolfpack to a 25-20 loss in the first set. In the second set, Morrisville brought the match into extra points, but came up short in a 27-25 loss. The final set was 25-19, Keuka College.
Erika Bailey (Newark, Valley, N.Y.) finished the match with 14 assists, 3 kill and 10 digs. Brandy Ehrenschneider (Olmsted Falls, O.H.) led the team with sixteen digs, and Kylie Murphy finishing the day with thirteen digs. Tiffany Jones- Maxwell finished with the most kills for the match, eight on the day, with Ehrenschneider finishing with five.
Mustangs finish out regular season with a convincing victory against SUNY Cobleskill
By Kelsey Schwan, Assistant Director of Sports Information
(Morrisville, NY – Oct. 25, 2014) The Morrisville State College men’s soccer (14-2, 9-1) finished their regular season with a victory on the road, Saturday afternoon against SUNY Cobleskill (3-13). With an unstoppable offense, the Mustangs posted 12 goals, with 14 different Mustangs recording points, against the Fighting Tigers, for a 12-0 final.
The Mustangs came out on fire in the first, finishing the first 45 minutes 9-0. Joe Sheehan (Liverpool, N.Y.) recorded another hat trick for the season, with Julian Rodriguez (Bronx, N.Y.) recording two goals on the day. Jacob Chase (Cooperstown, N.Y.), Brian Culkin (West Islip, N.Y.), Jamieson McKoy (Bronx. N.Y.), Ben Zilka (Wantagh, N.Y.) Philemon Appiah (Ghana, Kumasi), Jose Figueroa (Boston, M.A.), Yusuf Saunders (Bronx, N.Y.), all contributed one goal for the game. Sheehan, Danny Peckham (Webster, N.Y.), Jesse Astudillo (Wheeling, I.L.), Ryan Paddock (Montville, N.J.), Omari Pringle- Jacobs (Lakeland, F.L.), Rodriguz, Zackary Cozzarin (Trumanburg, N.Y.) all added an assist.
Eric Berglund (Elmira, N.Y.) had two saves for the shutout on the day.
Morrisville State is awaiting confirmation of the seeding for the NEAC Championship tournament.
Field hockey nets 3-2 overtime thriller, Kellum with game winner
By Brandy Thurston, Director of Sports Information
(Chambersburg, Pa. – Oct. 25, 2014) The Morrisville State College field hockey team posted a victory Saturday afternoon, a 3-2 decision that needed the extra frame to decide the winner, as the Mustangs fought back from an early deficit to host Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
The win lifts the Mustangs to 3-12 overall, while Wilson drops to 5-9.
Lauren Kellum (Eaton, N.Y.) posted two goals for the Mustangs, while Allyson Flurer (Kunkletown, Pa.) added another.
Kaitlyn Baker (VanEtten, N.Y.) recorded the win in net, making one stop.
Wilson took an early 1-0 lead in the eighth minute of the contest on an unassisted score from Hillary Swartz, and maintained the one goal advantage until Flurer connected on a feed from Meghan Holcomb (Hamilton, N.Y.) for the evening tally.
In the 34th minute, Morrisville State took their first lead of the contest on an unassisted score from Kellum, taking the 2-1 lead into the halftime period.
Wilson was able to tie the contest at the 42:36 mark on their second unassisted score of the day, this time off the stick of Kari Lehman to tie the contest at two.
Morrisville State had the chance to take the lead in the 66th minute on a penalty stroke opportunity, but Phoenix goalkeeper Kayla Butts turned the shot away to force the overtime period.
Both teams battled back and forth in the extra frame, exchanging penalty corner opportunities, but it was one in the 78th minute that proved costly for the hosts, as Kellum hit the back of the boards at 77:44 to give the Mustangs the 3-2 victory off the penalty corner.
Earlier in the Week
Mustangs shutout SUNYIT to finish regular season perfect at home
By Kelsey Schwan, Assistant Director of Sports Information
(Morrisville, NY – Oct. 22, 2014) The Morrisville State College men’s soccer (13-2, 8-1) team took one more step towards clinching the regular season title and hosting the NEAC Championship Tournament with a win against SUNYIT. With an aggressive offense and standout defense, the Mustangs won 2-0 at Drake Field Wednesday night.
In the 28th minute, the first goal of the game was from Mustang Jesse Astudillo (Wheeling, I.L.) on a cross pass for the goal. There would be other opportunities for both teams, but the halftime score would remain 1-0.
In the 85th minute, Joe Sheehan (Liverpool, N.Y.) was fouled on a breakaway up the right side of the field. He finished lower left on the penalty kick to solidify the win for the Mustangs.
Rob Larkin (Clinton, N.Y.) had two saves back to back for the shutout on the day.
The Mustangs will play their final regular season game on Saturday vs. Cobleskill in hopes to clinch the regular season title and host the NEAC championship tournament.
Second half surge leads SUNYIT by Morrisville State women
By Kelsey Schwan, Assistant Director of Sports Information
(Morrisville, NY – Oct. 22, 2014) The Mustang women’s soccer team (9-5, 6-4 NEAC) fell to NEAC opponent SUNYIT (8-9-1, 7-4 NEAC) at home on Wednesday afternoon.
Just three minutes into the first half, Krista Baxter found the back of the net off the goalkeeper’s hands. The Mustangs were able to hold off SUNY IT until the very end of the first half when Kristina Strang was able to score in the 41st minute. The first half ended up with a 1-1 score.
SUNY IT’s offense was relentless in the first half, out shooting the Mustangs 25-7. Strang scored her second goal of the day in the 70th minute. Corrina Marconi scored seven minutes later to seal the fate for Morrisville State.
Angela Marriot (Peekskill, N.Y) finished the game with nine saves.
Purcell, Evans named Mustang Athletes of the Week
(Morrisville, NY – Oct. 22, 2014) The Morrisville State College athletics department has named junior Courtney Purcell (Fabius, N.Y.) and sophomore Byron Evans (Cazenovia, N.Y.) the Mustang Athletes of the Week for the Week ending October 19.
Purcell led the women’s soccer team to a 1-0 conference record on the week from her midfield position. Behind her three point performance, Morrisville State downed Route 20 rival Cazenovia 2-1.
In the contest Purcell notched the first tally of the game, burying a cross for the early 1-0 lead and later added an assist on the game winner to lift Morrisville State to the win.
The junior is a graduate of Fabius Pompey High and is majoring in criminal justice at Morrisville State. She is the daughter of Mary and Robert Purcell of Fabius.
Evans posted a collegiate best 27:31.5 time Saturday at the CCOC Championships, leading Morrisville State College men’s cross country team to a 7th place finish overall in the 8K cross country race held at Seneca Lake Park in Geneva.
Evans’ time placed him at fifth all-time on the 8K record book charts at Morrisville State while he compiled a 15th overall finish among the field of 144 runners at the 5:33 mile pace.
The sophomore is majoring in automotive technology at Morrisville State. He is the son of Merry and Jim Evans of Cazenovia.
McKoy named NEAC Offensive Player of the Week
(Morrisville, NY – Oct. 22, 2014) The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) announced its student-athlete of the week selections in men’s soccer, naming Morrisville State College freshman Jamieson McKoy (Bronx, N.Y.) the Offensive Player of the Week.
McKoy recorded his first collegiate hat trick after scoring three goals to lead Morrisville State to a 6-0 win over non-conference opponent SUNY ESF on Friday.
His performance lifted his season tallies to eight goals to date on the season, ranking him fourth in the conference, while boosting his point total to 19.
Morrisville State is currently ranked seventh in the latest NSCAA East Region poll, improving to 12-2 overall with the win.
McKoy is a graduate of the High School for Teaching and The Professions in Bronx, and is majoring in accounting at Morrisville State. Originally from St. Kitts, he is the son of Caroline Davis of Bronx.