YORK, PA-Senior attack Adam Cross (Westminster, MD/Westminster) scored the game-winning goal with 1:23 left in overtime to hand the York College Spartans an 8-7 Capital Athletic Conference men's lacrosse victory over Catholic University in York, PA on Saturday. The contest was the Spartans' home opener and was also the first men's lacrosse game on York College's new Kinsley Field. The Spartans improve to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the CAC while the Cardinals fall to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the conference.
    The Spartans had a great first period as they outscored the Cardinals 3-0. Junior captain Chris Chappelle (Stevensville, MD/Chesapeake) tallied York's first two goals while Mike Klingerman (Chadds Ford, PA/Ridley) added a goal and an assist in the period.
    Catholic cut into the York advantage with a pair of goals to start the second quarter. The Spartans responded with a goals from Rob Marine (Bel Air, MD/Bel Air) and Nick Carlson (Fallston, MD/Fallston) to take a 5-2 edge to the break.
    The Cardinals came out of the half and tied the game thanks to three goals including a pair from Michael Scotto in the third quarter.
    York recaptured the lead early in the fourth as Ryan Schab (West Islip, NY/West Islip) scored off a pass from Chris Norman (Annapolis, MD/Broadneck) with 12:23 remaining in regulation. During the play leading up the goal, Catholic's Mike DiGiesi was flagged for an illegal body check, giving the Spartans the ball on the man advantage after Schab's goal. The Spartans controlled the ball and fired a shot on Cardinal goalie Greg Kavazanjian who made the save and then launched the ball towards the Spartan goal. The ball carried into the Spartan net for a man-down goal and, more importantly, tied the game at six. Catholic's Sean Agnew gave the visitors a 7-6 lead with 10:56 remaining with his lone goal of the game. York tied the game with 3:51 remaining in regulation as Shab fed Paul Rudell (Lusby, MD/Patuxent) the the tally. The Spartans had the ball with the man advantage with 30 seconds left in regulation but York would not get off a shot as the teams went to an extra session.
    The Spartans' first opportunity in overtime came when Brendan Hopkins (Monrovia, MD/Urbana) hit the post just 18 seconds into the extra session. Cross looked like was going to win the game with just under two minutes left in overtime but he stepped in the crease on his shot, negating a potential goal. On the ensuing possession, Catholic's Sean Agnew committed a turnover and was then flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, giving the green and white a man advantage opportunity. The game winning goal came just 13 seconds into the power play as Hopkins hit Cross for the game-winner, snapping the Spartans' two-game losing streak.
    Chappelle led the Spartans with two goals while Schab and Klingerman each added a goal and an assist. Rudell, Cross, Marine, and Carlson each scored a goal for YCP.
    Bobby MacArthur led the Cardinals with three points on two goals and one assist. Scotto contributed two goals while Danny McNamara, Kavazanjian, and Agnew each tallied a goal.
    Junior netminder Matt Keeler (Morton, PA/Ridley) earned the win as he notched 12 saves in 62:37 of action. Keeler allowed the seven goals as he improves to 2-2 for the season. Kavazanjian played 60:09 as he recorded 13 saves and allowed the eight Spartan tallies. Bobby Blabolil played 2:28 while Kavazanjian was serving a slashing penalty. He did not need to make a save on two Spartan shots while he was in goal.
    The Spartans finished the game out-shooting the Cardinals 37-30 for the game. York held a 14-2 edge in first quarter shots but the Cardinals responded by holding a 24-13 margin in the second and third quarters. The Spartans also had a 45-34 edge in ground balls. Catholic won 10 of the game's 17 face-offs while they also converted 27 of their 31 clear attempts. Both teams notched a man advantage goal while the Cardinals had one man-down goal.
    The Spartans return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Mary Washington to face the Eagles in a CAC contest. Game time in Fredericksburg is set for 3:30 pm.