MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The Morrisville State College men's soccer team defended their North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Championship for a third consecutive year after defeating Keuka College 2-1 Sunday. 

The Mustangs (16-3) will now earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.  They will find out who their first-round opponent is during the NCAA's live selection show, which can be viewed on the NCAA website Monday at 1 p.m. here. 

Following a scoreless first half, Morrisville State struck first when junior Ryan Houghtalen (Syracuse, N.Y.) scored on a direct kick that came from 45 yards out in the 55th minute.  Nearly seven minutes later, Keuka evened the contest on an own goal that deflected off a Mustang defender into the back of the net, knotting the game at one. 

Morrisville State then took the lead for good when Jamieson McKoy (Bassatterre, St. Kitts) chipped the ball forward into the box to a streaking Julian Rodriguez (Bronx, N.Y.), who then lifted it over the keeper for the go-ahead score that ultimately sealed the title for the Mustangs. 

Morrisville State senior goalkeeper Eric Berglund (Elmira, N.Y.) was named the NEAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, posting two wins and one shutout behind his 11 total stops in two tournament contests, including seven total saves Sunday that involved two point-blank attempts by the Wolves. 

A full box score can be found here.

*Major portions 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.