YORK, PA-The York College women's lacrosse team closed out their 2007 Capital Athletic Conference schedule with a disappointing 15-7 loss to Goucher College on Thursday afternoon in York. The Gophers improve to 5-6 overall and 3-2 in the CAC while the green and white falls to 4-7 overall and 2-5 in the conference.
    The Gophers jumped on the hosts with the first four goals of the game, three by Emily Blatter. Spartan junior Rachel Papsan (Baltimore, MD/North County) got on the green and white on the board with a goal at the 6:55 mark. Junior Brianna Yapps (Joppa, MD/Fallston) scored 2:33 later, trimming the York deficit to 4-2. The Gophers answered Yapps' goal with an Ellen Billingsley goal just 20 seconds later to increase the lead back to three goals at 5-2. Yapps scored a pair of goals around another Blatter goal as the Spartans went into the half down 6-4.
    The second half would prove to be the Spartans' downfall. The two teams traded goals to open the half but the Gophers then strung together five straight goals to open up an 11-5 lead. Senior Jaclyn Girsh (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) scored with 15:20 remaining on a free position shot to cut the lead to 11-6 but Goucher scored four consecutive goals, pushing their lead to 15-6. Spartan senior Laurie Graf (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) closed out the scoring with a tally with eight seconds left to provide for the final eight goal margin of defeat.
    The Gophers were paced by Blatter as the midfielder tallied eight points on six goals and two assists. She also had seven draw controls for the game. Kate Knitter added five points on three goals and a pair of assists. Marlo Tersigni chipped in with three goals while Whitney Groseclose was the other multiple point scorer with a goal and an assist.
    The Spartans were led by Yapps and Girsh as they each had three points. Yapps had three goals while Girsh had a goal and two assists. Defender Sara Hester (Manteo, NC/Howard (Md.)) notched a team-high six ground balls while she also caused three Goucher turnovers.
    Goucher's Janna Kaufman earned the win in goal as she registered 12 saves in 60 minutes of work. Anne Fuestle (Baltimore, MD/Catonsville) recorded 16 saves in her 60 minutes of action. She allowed all 15 of the Gopher goals.
    The Gophers outshot the Spartans 42-32 while the green and white had a slight 34-30 edge in ground balls. Goucher dominated the draw controls, winning 19 of the 24 draws for the game. York forced 33 Gopher turnovers while the committed 26 miscues of their own.
    The green and white return to action on Monday, April 16 when they host Hood College. The game is scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm.