MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The Morrisville State (10-6) men's lacrosse team learned their next opponent Sunday night during the NCAA Division III Tournament selection show, and they will head to York College (PA) to face the Stockton University Ospreys Tuesday, May 7.
Opening face-off for the first round contest will occur at 4 p.m. on the York campus. Live video and stats will be available on Morrisville State's athletic web site at www.morrisvillestateathletics.com.
Morrisville State is making their fifth straight appearance in the NCAA tourney, after capturing the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Tournament crown Saturday with a 13-8 defeat of SUNY Polytechnic.
The Mustangs enter the contest averaging 14.5 goals per game, netting a total 232 across the 16-game season.
A trio of upperclassmen lead the squad in scoring, with senior Nick Geswaldo (Lafayette, N.Y.) pacing the Mustangs with 79 points on the year, including a total 58 goals.
Not far behind is junior Chris Dovi (Cortland, N.Y.) with a total 74 points, 49 of which have been goals. Junior Joe Rosaschi (Syracuse, N.Y.) has added 60 points for the 'Stangs, posting a total 39 goals and 21 assists.
Defensively a pair of freshman alongside the senior leadership of long stick Brendan Boles (Goshen, N.Y.) and keeper Niko Cejic (Johnson City, N.Y.) back stop the Mustangs, who on average have allowed 11.23 goals per game this season.
Zack Mabry (Suffern, N.Y.) and Paul Tocci (Riverhead, N.Y.) have combined for 70 caused turnovers and 98 ground balls across the season in their freshmen campaigns, with another balance of 29 caused turnovers and 26 ground ball pickups coming from Boles.
Cejic has posted 117 stops in bet for a 47.6 save percentage across 13 games, a 10.58 goals against average, entering the tournament after posting 11 in the title game to earn NEAC tournament MVP accolades.
Stockton enters the tournament with a 17-2 overall record, with both losses coming by a combined five goals.
The Ospreys captured the Colonial State Athletic Conference (CSAC) championship title with a 14-11 come-from-behind win over Montclair state in the second half.
Luc Swedlund earned tournament MVP honors following his six goals and two assist performance for the Ospreys, two in the final quarter of action as they outgunned the Hawks 6-1 in the fourth.
Stockton averages 18.94 goals per game, netting 33 total on the year on the extra man opportunity, doubling up opponents who have on average posted a mere 9.21 per contest.
Swedlund leads the way with 107 points across the 19-game year, netting 90 goals and assisting another 17. Fellow teammate Erik Anderson enters with 106 points, adding 55 goals with a balanced 51 assists.
Justin Ruiz backstops the Ospreys in net, starting all 19 games while posting a 9.83 goals against average behind his 227 saves and 57.5 save percentage.
Morrisville State collected their first win in NCAA post-season play a year ago, downing Eastern University in overtime to advance to the second round.
The winner of the opening round contest will advance to the second round, where they take on host York College (PA) on Wednesday, May 7.
Morrisville State College's curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.
The college was ranked among the Best Regional Colleges in the North by U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2018 issue and was also recognized in the Top Public Schools, Regional Colleges North in the 2018 Best Colleges rankings. For more information about Morrisville State College, visit www.morrisville.edu.
#30#