GANSEVOORT, N.Y. – For the second straight year and third time in four seasons, the Morrisville State College Mustangs captured the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Men’s Soccer Championship after defeating the Wells College Express 1-0 in an overtime thriller Sunday. 

The Mustangs (13-4-2) will now head to their second straight NCAA Division III Tournament.  They will learn their opponent on the NCAA’s live selection show on Monday, November 9 at 1:30 pm, which can be viewed here. 

The game would need overtime to be decided after the defensive battle went scoreless through regulation.  Nearly two minutes into the sudden-victory period, Morrisville State was awarded a corner kick in which junior Joe Sheehan (Liverpool, N.Y.) launched the ball that curved towards the inside right post of the goal. A Wells defender extended their hand and was whistled for a costly handball on the goal line, resulting in a penalty kick for the Mustangs. 

The game would be decided on the foot of senior captain Danny Peckham (Webster, N.Y.), who lined up for the PK and rifled the ball into the right corner of the net to give the Mustangs their second straight title. 

Danny’s brother, junior center back Alan Peckham (Webster, N.Y.), was named the NEAC Tournament Most Valuable Player after recording the game-winning assist in yesterday's semifinal and being the backbone of a Mustang defensive unit that didn’t give up a goal in either of their tournament contests. 

Morrisville senior goalie Rob Larkin (Clinton, N.Y.) recorded his 11th win of the season and sixth shutout of the year as he registered three stops to secure the victory for the Mustangs, who held a 20-6 advantage in shots on the day.  

Wells College sophomore goalie Owen May (Warsaw, N.Y.) was also excellent in goal, making eight saves for the Express (13-7).

*Majority of this release courtesy of Morrisville State College Sports Information Director Brandy Thurston

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The North Eastern Athletic Conference has fourteen NCAA Division III member institutions which include: Bryn Athyn College, Cazenovia College, College of St. Elizabeth, Gallaudet University, Keuka College, Lancaster Bible College, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Pennsylvania State University - Abington, Pennsylvania State University - Berks, SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Morrisville State College, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Wells College, and Wilson College.  Associate members are: Cedar Crest College (W Swimming), D’Youville College (M Volleyball), Hilbert College (M Lacrosse & M Volleyball), Medaille College (M&W Lacrosse & M Volleyball), Penn State Altoona (M Volleyball) and Rutgers University - Camden (M Golf).  The North Eastern Athletic Conference has partnered with the North Atlantic Conference in the sports of field hockey and men’s and women’s tennis.