Late save seals nail-biting 8-7 win for Mustangs over Canton

Recap, photo courtesy of Morrisville State College

CANTON, N.Y. – Visiting Morrisville State College women's lacrosse picked up a thrilling 8-7 victory over non-conference opponent SUNY Canton Tuesday afternoon, improving to 3-6 on the season as they posted their third straight victory.

Marissa Woodard (Unadilla, N.Y.) collected nine saves in the win, including one that came on a shot low from about 5-yards out with under a minute to play to seal with the victory. Six of Woodard's stops were in the first half of action.

Gianna Branca (Camillus, N.Y.) led Morrisville State with five points, netting three scores and assisting two others, while Chelsea McNeal (Ithaca, N.Y.) and Courtney Cavellier (Rodman, N.Y.) each added two goals.

Jillian Hughes (Brookfield, N.Y.) rounded out the Mustang scoring with a goal, the game winner that was put away with 7:21 to go in the contest on the man-up opportunity. Hughes also had an assist, along with Makenzi Santini (Fairport, N.Y.) who connected with Hughes for the winning tally.

Canton drew first blood with a score at the 26:22 mark before Morrisville State rallied for four straight, three by Branca, for a 4-1 lead with two minutes remaining in the opening half.

A final Roo score with 22 ticks to go in the first period sent the game into the halftime break with a 4-2 Mustang lead.

In the second, Morrisville State struck first with a score form McNeal, before the hosts rattled off three straight to even the game at five with just under 20 to go.

McNeal posted her second to give the visitors the one goal edge, and both teams battled back and forth trading scores until the strike by Hughes with just over seven to go, put the Mustangs ahead for a final time.

Canton had three attempts to collect a tying score, but Woodard turned away two of her three total second half stops, and another hit the post.

Morrisville State returns to the field Saturday, resuming conference action as they hit the field against Hilbert College in Houghton. Game time is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start at Houghton College.

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.