Athletics

The Morrisville State College Mustangs fought back from a late second period deficit, forced an extra frame, and topped host Rhode Island College with a thrilling 66-61 overtime victory to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship Tournament. Morrisville State, for the second straight week, posts the upset to improve to 23-5 overall, and ends the Anchorman’s season (nationally ranked #13 by D3hoops.com) at 26-4.

The Morrisville State College women’s lacrosse team dropped a 12-9 non-conference decision to host Elmira College, Saturday afternoon in Elmira. The Mustangs fall to 0-2 to start the season, as Elmira collects their first win. Sybil Stanton (Walton, N.Y.) led the Morrisville State efforts, tallying four goals, while Cassie Edmondson (Oshawa, Ontario) added two. Shelby Wood (Duanesburg, N.Y.) tallied one, and dished out four assists while Jessica Young (Clifton Park, N.Y.) posted a score and an assist.

Morrisville State College junior forward, Rhamel Williams (Bronx, N.Y. / John F. Kennedy) has been named to the 2012-13 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Upstate Men’s Basketball All-Star second team as announced by the conference office yesterday afternoon.

Visiting Morrisville State College men’s lacrosse struggled in the opening half of action Saturday afternoon, turning the ball over 16 times alone in the first 30 minutes, as host SUNY Potsdam collected the 10-4 non-conference victory in Potsdam. Morrisville State drops to 0-2 overall, while Potsdam picks up the first win of the season at 1-0. The Bears came out of the gates on fire, posting the first score of the afternoon just 56 seconds into the opening quarter, before rattling off five additional tallies for the 6-0 advantage after one.

Morrisville State College men’s basketball made history Saturday night, stunning the 15th ranked team in the nation by D3hoops.com, Ramapo, with an 86-78 opening round victory in the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Mustangs advance to the second round of the championship tourney to face Rhode Island College, who topped Hobart in extra time by a 62-59 margin. The Anchormen are ranked #13 nationally by D3hoops.com with a 26-3 overall record.

The National Field Hockey Coaches Association announced its 2012 Gladiator by SGI/NFHCA Division III National Academic Squad Tuesday afternoon, selecting Morrisville State freshman Megan Coffey (Pleasant Valley, N.Y.) to its squad. The National Academic Squad recognizes those student-athletes who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher through the first semester of the 2012-13 academic year.

The Morrisville State College hunt seat equestrian team compiled 35 team points at the Hartwick Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Invitational Saturday, claiming third overall for the show. Skidmore won the invitational with 47 team points, followed by Hartwick for reserve team honors. Michelle Borbee (Bellerose, N.Y.) placed second in the novice equitation over fences to qualify for the regional championships that take place March 30 at Skidmore.

The Morrisville State College western equestrian team collected high point team honors in two shows on Saturday, sweeping all competition as they concluded the regular season schedule at the riding arena in Morrisville. In the first of the day’s double, Morrisville State claimed show top honors with 30 team points, followed by Cobleskill with 22 and Colgate with eight. Five had the top ride of the morning, including Nicole Pulcher-Guzek (Troy, N.Y.) in the novice western horsemanship class.

The Morrisville State College western equestrian team added another honor to the program’s success on Sunday, finishing the season as the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Zone 2, Region 3 High Point Team for the Region, and advancing six additional riders to the national semi-final competition.

The Morrisville State College men’s basketball team made history Saturday night, stunning Ramapo College with an 86-78 victory in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Tournament, the first ever post-season win in the NCAA Tournament for the college. Morrisville State (22-5) advances to face Rhode Island College, who topped Hobart in extra time. Ramapo, ranked #15 nationally by D3hoops.com, ends the season with a 23-5 record.