YORK, PA – On a breezy, sun splashed
early fall afternoon the York College field hockey squad picked up
a thrilling 3-2 victory over Susquehanna University. The Spartans
now move to 4-3 while the Crusaders mark now stands at 1-5.
With the score tied at two goals apiece and time swiftly coming
off the clock, junior Megan Spangler (Myerstown,
Pa./Eastern Lebanon County) tallied the game-winning score
with only 5:45 left to play. After several passes inside their
offensive circle, Allison Roush (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim
Township) found Spangler who slotted home the game-winner.
The Spartans controlled play for the first half as they opened
the match scoring 17 minutes into the game after a Casey
Lawrence (Abbottstown, Pa./Delone Catholic) penalty
corner. Lawrence played a beautiful ball to the top of the circle
for an awaiting Spangler. Spangler stopped the service for Roush to
fire a long shot. As Roush's shot rifled through a crowd of
players toward the Crusader goal, an opportunistic Casey
Knauss (St. Michaels, Md./Easton) finished for the green
and white, tallying her first score of her senior campaign.
York would add to their lead with 8:05 remaining in the first
frame. Forward April McFarland (York, Pa./Eastern
York), who was able to get behind the Crusader defense for
much of the first half, found herself on a breakaway with only
Susquehanna goalkeeper Erin Ferguson to beat. As Ferguson came off
her line to cut down McFarland's angle, the senior captain
deftly slipped a pass to an on-running Lawrence who promptly gave
the Spartans a 2-0 lead.
At the halftime break, the Spartans held a solid 2-0 margin.
York was able to record nine penalty corners in the half while the
Crusaders only managed two.
Susquehanna cut the Spartan advantage to one just over eight
minutes into the frame. The Crusaders played the ball into
York's circle where defender Julie Reahl (Eldersburg,
Md./Liberty) was forced to make a defensive save. Andrea
Fiori then capitalized on a close chance to tally her second goal
of 2008 and move the score line to 2-1.
The Crusaders then drew even on the scoreboard as Anna Spisak
scored her first of the year. Spisak took a pass from Kristen
Epting inside the Spartan circle and slotted home the score to tie
the game at 2-2 with 17:38 remaining.
For the match, the Spartans led in shots 16-9 while they also
held a 14-7 advantage in penalty corners.
Spartan goalkeeper Claire Rekitzke (Seaford,
Del./Seaford Senior) grabs the win in the cage making a
trio of saves while Ferguson made five saves to keep her team in
the match.
York returns to action on Saturday as they host Dickinson in a
non-conference tilt. The game from Kinsley Field begins at noon.
BOX SCORE
