ARLINGTON, VA – The York College men's soccer team posted a hard-fought 3-0 Capital Athletic Conference win over Marymount University in Arlington, VA on Tuesday afternoon. The Spartans, who are ranked third in the nation, improve to 7-0-2 overall and 2-0-1 in the CAC. The Saints fall to 5-4-1 overall and 1-1 in the conference. The win extends York's national best unbeaten streak to 29 matches.

The Spartans gained control of the contest early on as they pressured the Marymount goal early and often. York converted that pressure into the game's first goal just 6:44 into the match as Lucas Emil (Parsippany, N.J./Morris Catholic) fed Mike Gill (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall) for the goal. The goal was Gill's first of the 2009 campaign.

The remainder of the first half would be devoid of scoring but not of action. The game was highly physical as there were a combined 21 first half fouls. The Spartans had a 12-3 bulge in first half shots but their lead was just one goal at the intermission.

The Spartans gave themselves a little breathing room early in the second half as senior Mike O'Connell (Bowie, Md./Archbishop Spalding) scored in the 59^th minute. O'Connell's goal was his third of the season and was assisted by Kemal Nuspahic (East Petersburg, Pa./Warwick).

York picked up their final goal of the match just 50 seconds after O'Connell's goal as senior Travis Williams (Springfield, Pa./Springfield Township) converted a penalty kick to give the Spartans' their final three-goal margin of victory. The goal was Williams' fourth of the year. Three of his goals have come on penalty kicks as he is a perfect 3-for-3.

The Spartans finished the game with a significant 26-7 edge in shots including an 11-3 margin in shots on goal. York also recorded 12 corner kicks to just two for the home standing Saints.

Senior Ryan Hock (Brookeville, Md./Sherwood) started and played the first 65:02 in goal as he recorded a pair of saves. Freshman Jesse Derksen (York, Pa./Susquehannock) played the final 24:58 and made one save for the Green and White. William Brahmstedt made eight stops in his 90 minutes of work between the pipes for the Saints.

The game was very physical with the Saints committing 22 fouls and the Spartans being whistled for 16 infractions.

The Spartans now must turn around and face CAC foe Gallaudet University at Graham Field on Wednesday afternoon. Game time is set for 4:30 pm.

GAME BOX

Travis Williams photo courtesy of Scott Guise