YORK, PA – Kemal Nuspahic's
(East Petersburg, Pa./Warwick) 44th-minute goal lifted the
York College men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over visiting
Johns Hopkins Wednesday evening at Graham Field. The Spartans, who
have accumulated a sparkling 25-1-1 record at home since the
opening of Graham Field in 2006, remain undefeated and move to 4-0
on the season while the Blue Jays fall to 4-2.
Throughout the first half of play, both sides were able to put the
other under pressure and create several dangerous chances. In the
match's seventh minute, Hopkins' Scott Bukoski, whose
speed created several scoring opportunities throughout the match,
slipped just far enough behind the Spartan defense to create a
dangerous slight breakaway opportunity. With Spartan defender
Scott Becker (Hockessin, Del./Salesianum) riding
Bukoski's hip, the sophomore forward was forced into an early
shot which he fired toward the far right post. York's senior
goalkeeper Kyle Marks (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury)
made a sprawling dive to his left to redirect the shot over the end
line for what turned out to be a harmless corner kick.
As the first 45 came to a close, Nuspahic hit a shot that sailed
wide. On the ensuing goal kick, junior midfielder Jon Ports
(Baltimore, Md./McDonogh) managed to get a foot on the
flighted ball near the midfield line and force it long back toward
the Blue Jay net. Nuspahic swiftly ran to collect the loose ball,
beat several Hopkins defenders inside the 18-yard box and deftly
struck his third goal of the season into the far left netting.
At half, the Spartans and Blue Jays were even at eight shots
apiece while York held a 4-1 advantage in corners.
The second stanza would prove to be much like its predecessor,
with both sides creating scoring opportunities throughout the
frame. Hopkins looked to even the score line early in the second
half as a bounding cross found its way from the right side of the
field to York's far left post, where an awaiting Blue Jay
knock in what appeared to be the tying score. That goal would be
nullified however, as Hopkins was whistled for off-sides.
After the Hopkins scare, York looked to increase their advantage
to two when senior defender Kurt Lane (Cochranville,
Pa./Octorara) took an outside rip in the 60th minute. A
loose ball found its way to Lane, who was just outside the box on
the right side. The senior hit a beautiful rope-of-a-strike toward
the far left upper-90. Unfortunately for the home squad, the ball
sailed over the crossbar and out for a goal kick.
York would effectively run out the rest of the clock and secure
the 1-0 victory.
In total, the Spartans edged the Blue Jays in shots 15-11 and also
held a 7-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Marks grabs his fourth win of the season with a 90-minute clean
sheet, as he made three saves. Blue Jay goalkeeper Matt Mierley
made seven stops to keep his team in the match.
The Spartans return to action on Saturday, September 16. The green
and white are set to host Lynchburg in a 2:30 pm match at Graham
Field.
BOX SCORE
