By Dave Ciulla, '08 |Staff Reporter

The men’s soccer posted the best record thus far for Morrisville State College’s inaugural season as a NCAA Division III school. The Mustangs finished their first season with 5 wins and 9 losses.

During the middle part of their season, the team adjusted to the new Division III atmosphere and began a run where they won four out of five games. “We’ve been getting along better, and the last couple games we’ve just been playing more as a team,” junior captain Joel Bezner said following their Sept. 23 victory over Cazenovia College.

The highlight of the season was a memorial victory on Mustang Weekend, when the team crushed Wells College by a score of 5-0. They rolled into Morrisville State College’s premier weekend and tested their previous three out of four -ame win streak and came out successful. Just 10 seconds into the contest, Sophomore Andrew Ketchum scored off of a Bob Riley assist. After that, Morrisville never looked back. Ketchum ended the day with 2 goals and an assist, Freshmen Gabe Parra-Merrell added two goals and Freshmen Segun Ajiboye scored once. Morrisville’s goalkeeper Brad Reed recorded 8 saves.

Prior to Mustang Weekend, after winning their first-ever NCAA Division III competition against Hilbert College 3-2 in a thrilling finish back on Sept. 10, the Mustangs dropped a rematch against Medaille College. They then went on to defeat Keuka College 2-1 and shut out Cazenovia College, 3-0.

The Mustangs rebounded from a 4-0 loss against Medaille College with a victory over the Keuka College Storm on a late score. Morrisville continued their strong play by blanking the Cazenovia Wildcats 3-0. Freshmen goalkeeper Brad Reed posted nine saves in the victory and recorded his first career collegiate shutout.

Morrisville then dropped its next four competitions. The Mustangs ended their four game losing streak with a defeat over Wells in a rematch on the road on Oct. 14, 3-1.

The Mustangs' first Division III season ended with a 6-1 loss against powerhouse SUNY Oneonta; the former NCAA Division I men’s soccer team.

The team did not qualify for postseason play because they are in their first of a 4-year provisional Division III membership. None of Morrisville State College’s athletic teams is allowed to participate in the SUNYAC Conference Championships for the first two years of the provisional period. The men’s soccer team consists of 16 freshmen, 11 sophomores, and four juniors as they look forward to next season.