FREDERICKSBURG, VA – The York College field hockey team saw their 2009 season come to a close Wednesday afternoon, falling 2-1 to host Mary Washington in the semifinal round of the Capital Athletic Conference Tournament. The Spartans finish the year with a 14-8 mark, one win shy of the program's all-time high in victories, while Mary Washington (12-7) moves on to Saturday's league final.

The Spartans nearly jumped out in front of their hosts as the Green and White went on the offensive early in the match. York registered the game's first four corners while also notching four of the first six shots in the match.

The Spartans' best early opportunity appeared to come at the beginning of the 13th minute. After a Spartan corner, Brittany Simmons (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley) rattled off a pair of shots in quick succession but was denied twice by Eagle goalkeeper Chrissy Bowdren. In fact, Bowdren was forced to make saves on each of York's four early attempts.

Despite the Spartans' early aggression, Mary Washington opened the game's scoring in the 19th minute. Emma Jones fed Erin Duffy who was able to notch sixth tally of 2009 to put the Eagles up 1-0.

That goal seemed to energize the Mary Washington squad as they proceeded to register the half's final five shots while also garnering five corners over the period's closing 16:05.

On the flip side, the Spartans were unable to generate the offensive chances they had early in the match as they mustered only one corner the rest of the frame. 

The second stanza began much like the first had ended with Mary Washington going on the offensive. The Eagles recorded a corner and three shots by the 4:30 mark of the second half. However, as she has done all season, Spartan goalkeeper Claire Rekitzke (Seaford, Del./Seaford Senior) stood tall forcing the match to remain 1-0.

The Spartans began to turn the tide just over five minutes into the half when Allison Roush (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) registered York's first shot in nearly 25 minutes of action.

Three minutes later, junior forward Katie Dawkins (Easton, Md./Easton) found paydirt as she provided the equalizer on her 18th goal of the season.

With the score deadlocked at 1-1, both sides garnered chances over the next several minutes but neither could break through.

That is, until Mary Washington's Jones knocked home what would prove to be the game-winner in the 55th minute. In a rare double-assist, Duffy and Florence George provided the helper for Jones' team-leading 14th of the season.

The final 15:31 would close out quietly allowing Mary Washington to secure the 2-1 CAC Tournament win.

For the game, the Eagles outshot their guests 17-8 while they also held a slight 9-8 edge in penalty corners.

In her final match in the Spartan cage, Rekitzke made nine stops for the Green and White. The senior netminder closes out her tremendous season after manning the pipes for four years. Bowdren captures the victory in goal for the Eagles as she made six saves for Mary Washington.

This match marks not only the end of York's outstanding 2009 campaign, but the end of five Spartan careers. Veronica Eltz (Hanover, Pa./Delone Catholic), Heather Re (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown), Julie Reahl (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty), Megan Spangler (Myerstown, Pa./Eastern Lebanon County), and Rekitzke close out their four years in the Green and White having amassed a 40-45 overall record. More importantly, the Spartans have bettered their mark in each of the past two campaigns as this class has established a great foundation for the future of Spartan field hockey.

BOX SCORE

Veronica Eltz completes her Spartan career as a two-year captain for the Green and White - photo courtesy of Zach Clabaugh (www.sharpedgephoto.smugmug.com)