YORK, PA –The York College women's soccer team was on the short end of a 3-0 score line against #7 Messiah College Wednesday evening from Graham Field. The Spartans drop to an even .500 on the season at 4-4-1 while Messiah improves to 8-0-2.

York looked to get on the board first within the game's opening 30 seconds, when Katherine Torode (Brick, N.J./Brick Township) played a long ball to senior forward Jill Stanley (Stewartstown, Pa./Kennard-Dale). Stanley was able to force the ball forward where the sophomore midfielder Steph Mergler (Street, Md./North Harford) eventually hammered home what appeared to be the game's initial tally. Unfortunately for the Spartan side, the assistant referee's flag was raised for an offside call, negating the apparent score.

Messiah would go on to take the lead in the tenth-minute of play on a Joanna Haqq unassisted score. Haqq launched a ball into the Spartan box that was able to squeak through the Spartan defense and bound into the back of the net.  Her eighth notch of the season would prove to be the game-winning tally.

The Falcons put the green and white under constant pressure in the first 45 minutes, totaling 15 shots to York's zero. The Spartan defense held the nation's top team in check however, only allowing the one goal in the first frame.

After the halftime break, the Spartans came out of the locker room with a renewed sense of resolve and were able to put pressure on the Falcons for the opening minutes of the second stanza. Perhaps York's best chance came in the game's 51st minute when sophomore Ali Jones (Riva, Md./Archbishop Spalding) found the ball at her feet in front of the Falcon goal. Jones was unable to hit a solid strike however, and Messiah goalkeeper Brindley Beckwith easily collected the attempt.

Amanda Naeher recorded the Falcons' second score at the 64:53 mark. Naeher made an incredible individual effort dribbling through several Spartan defenders before unleashing near the top of the box for her 11th goal of the 2008 campaign.

Messiah iced the game in the 80th minute when Erin Hench scored Messiah's third goal of the match and her tenth of the season. Amy Horst found Hench who promptly put the Falcons up by three.

For the contest, the Falcons held a tremendous 28-3 bulge in shots but only a 1-0 edge in corner kicks.

Sophomore goalkeeper Desiree Halaka (Southampton, N.Y./Southampton) takes the loss in the Spartan net notching a trio of saves in her 83:25 of work. Freshman Sarah Spanarkel (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) finished off the game's final 6:35 and was not forced to make a save. Beckwith recorded one stop for the Falcons.

York looks to get back above the .500 mark on Saturday, October 4, as they host Moravian, during York's Fall Fest Weekend. The non-conference tilt from Graham Field is slated for 12:30

BOX SCORE

Lauren Stewart photo courtesy of Scott Guise