Mustangs halted on road at College of New Jersey, suffer 20-21 heartbreaker to Lions
Stories by Brandy Thurston, Director of Sports Information
(Ewing, NJ – Oct. 19, 2013) The Morrisville State College football team’s three-game win streak came to an end Saturday afternoon, as host The College of New Jersey Lions edged the Mustangs 21-20 in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) action in Ewing, New Jersey.
The loss drops the Mustangs to an 3-3 overall record, 2-1 in conference action, while TCNJ picks up their fourth straight victory to improve to 4-2, 3-0 in conference play.
The contest featured the NJAC’s best defense going against the conference’s best offensive team, and in the end it was the Lions defense that won out, halting Morrisville State’s final drive attempt on fourth down to claim the win.
Morrisville State collected 431-yards total offense on the day, 250 in the running game behind a 158-yard rushing performance by running back Cristian Pena (Ridgewood, N.Y.). Lemar Johnson (Ossining, N.Y.) added 70 on 16 attempts for two scores, while going 26-for-40 in the passing game for 181 yards.
Anthony Gray (Smallwood, N.Y.) led the receiving corps with 82 yards on 12 catches, while Josh Powell (Yonkers, N.Y.) added 56 yards on seven receptions.
Wally Stephens (Kingston, N.Y.) led the defense efforts for the Mustangs, posting a collegiate high nine total tackles, including four solo stops and one and a half tackles for a loss of five yards, while four teammates posted five apiece.
Chris Spellman went 11-for-22 for the Lions for 190 yards and three passing scores, as TCNJ edged Morrisville State by nine yards in the passing game.
Brad Young led all Lion ball carriers netting 60 yards on 13 carries, while teammate Victor Scalici added 53 yards on 15 attempts.
Nick Bricker led all defensemen and TCNJ with 19 total tackles, while Ryan Lowe added 15.
After the Mustangs forced a three and out on the Lions opening drive, they put together a series that came to a stop on TCNJ’s three yard line midway through the quarter. Morrisville State lined up for a field goal attempt, but the conference’s leading and stingy defense (ranked 12th nationally) kept the Mustangs at length, blocking the 20 yard field goal attempt to take over the ball on their own seven.
Morrisville State’s defense again limited the Lions to just three plays before forcing a punt, and rebounded from the missed field goal with an eight play, 53-yard drive that was capped off by a 13-yard rushing score by Johnson for the 7-0 Mustang lead with 3:03 to go in the opening quarter.
The Lions used an interception late in the opening quarter in Mustang territory to set up a 43-yard scoring drive just three plays later, as Spellman found Ryan Baranowsky on the 27-yard pass play to even the contest at seven.
Pinned deep in their own territory, Morrisville State took advantage of Pena’s ability to move the ball and drove it downfield, setting up a one-yard scoring run by Johnson to complete the 93-yard, 11-play drive for the 14-7 advantage.
Midway through the second quarter, Morrisville State’s offense put together a drive that consumed nearly five minutes of the clock and 84 yards down to the TCNJ two-yard line, but on fourth and goal, Bricker forced Johnson out of the pocket and tackled him for a loss of a yard to turn the ball over on downs with4:45 to go before half.
On the ensuing Lions’ drive, Spellman completed a series of passes and used the ability of Scalici to get out to midfield, before launching a ball to Jeff Mattonelli who snatched the ball away from the Mustang defense in the endzone for a 51-yard completion and tying score with just seconds remaining on the clock before the half.
Morrisville State regained the lead midway through the third quarter as Johnson completed two straight passes to Gray for a combined 22 yard gain into TCNJ territory, and then took to the ground to cap off the 50 yard drive with a three yard run by Edwin Soto (Liberty, N.Y.) for the go ahead 20-14 Mustang lead.
Morrisville State’s defense held TCNJ scoreless for the remainder of the third quarter, but with 10:09 left in the contest, the Lions’ were able to muster the go ahead tally, as Spellman hit Fred Sprengel on a 30-yard over the shoulder touchdown reception for the 21-20 host lead.
The game came down to the final minute as the Mustangs regained possession with 3:32 remaining on their own 10 and moved the ball into TCNJ territory. The Lions’ defensive line forced Johnson out of the pocket forcing his fourth down pass attempt to fall incomplete and turn the ball over on downs.
Morrisville State will look to rebound from the heartbreaking loss on Saturday, hosting Montclair State at 1 p.m. on Drake Field.
Morrisville State “Kick It for Corbin” net 3-0 win over Gallaudet
(Morrisville, NY – Oct. 19, 2013) Morrisville State College women’s soccer team posted a 3-0 North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) victory over visiting Gallaudet University Saturday afternoon, bumping their record to 8-6 overall, 6-4 in conference action.
The Mustangs donned Carolina blue jersey’s Saturday afternoon, raising awareness and donations to benefit the Upstate Galisano Children’s Hospital in Syracuse in remembrance of children who have suffered terminal illnesses and those who are currently fighting the battle. The contest, close to the heart of the Morrisville State family, also served as a remembrance of Corbin McHenry, the son of former Mustang soccer forward Kara Collins, who put up a fight but lost the battle to Trisomy 13 this August.
Morrisville State had plenty of chances early on, but they sailed wide, until the 18th minute when Jordan Nadeau (Cobleskill, N.Y.) sent a through ball to Bailey Rutan (Cincinnatus, N.Y.) on the breakaway, who put two touches on the ball, juked the goalkeeper and fired the shot off her left foot for the 1-0 Mustang lead.
Minutes later, Krista Baxter (Downsville, N.Y.) crossed the ball from the right side of the box to the foot of a wide open Amber Welsh (Cortland, N.Y.) for the one-touch score and two goal Mustang lead.
Rutan made it a three goal game in the 30th minute, hitting both posts and then the crossbar before collecting the rebound and poking it in for the score and eventual win.
Angela Marriott (Peekskill, N.Y.) recorded the win in net, making four stops.
The Mustangs return to the field Tuesday, hosting SUNY Canton at 6 p.m. on Drake Field. Prior to the game, seniors Desiree Tommasino (Coram, N.Y.), Nadeau, and Kolleen Brown (Willet, N.Y.) were honored.
Morrisville State men’s runners rough road at CCOC Championships
(Geneva, NY – Oct. 19, 2013) The Morrisville State College men’s cross country team hit the ground running Saturday afternoon, but faced a rough road as they finished 12th overall at the CCOC Championships held at the Seneca Lake Park in Geneva.
SUNY ESF were CCOC Champions, finishing with 37 team points for the victory.
Byron Evans (Cazenovia, N.Y.) led the Mustang pack with an 8K finish of 31:35.1, 55th overall position in the field of 141 runners, while teammate Steven Cuff (Auburn, N.Y.) followed with a time of 31:58.9, 60th overall.
Mark DiPerna (Remsen, N.Y.) crossed third for Morrisville State, finishing with a time of 33:34.7 (66th), while teammates Basil McKenzie (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Tyler Wellington (Cayuga, N.Y.) rounded out team scoring in 69th and 71stposition, respectively.
The Mustangs will return to the courses the first week of November for the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) championships.
Morrisville State women 5th at CCOC Championships
(Geneva, NY – Oct. 19, 2013) The Morrisville State College women’s cross country team compiled 132 team points Saturday to finish fifth overall at the CCOC Championships held at the Seneca Lake Park in Geneva.
Hartwick was the race champion with 78 team points.
Billie Jo Hinds (Blossvale, N.Y.) led the Mustang charge with a fourth place individual finish, crossing the 5K line in 20:07.6, the top overall North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) finish in the field of 137.
Amanda Hunt (Tunkhannock, Pa.) was next to cross the line for the Mustangs, finishing in 17th overall position with a time of 21:01.3. Laura Harmon (Cooperstown, N.Y.) was not too far behind, crossing in 21st overall, with a time of 21:12.5.
Ashley Holzwarth (Central Square, N.Y.) was 42nd overall, and Evelia Hehir (Washingtonville, N.Y.) 48th, to round out Mustang scoring.
Morrisville State will be off next weekend, but have their eyes on preparations for the NEAC Championships held the first weekend in November.