FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The York College field hockey squad suffered a 5-2 defeat at hands of host Mary Washington Saturday in Capital Athletic Conference action from Fredericksburg, Va. The loss drops the Spartans to 8-7 overall and 2-4 in the CAC while the Eagles improve to 9-6 and 4-1 in conference action.

Mary Washington got on the board early as Kaitlyn Ripley tallied the Eagles' first goal just 5:38 into the contest.

Morgan Jones increased their lead to 2-0 just 4:06 later. Ripley, who had scored the opening goal, assisted on this one as UMW held a two-goal advantage before the ten-minute mark.

That lead ballooned to 3-0 on a Kristen Haynor 21^st minute penalty stroke and then to 4-0 as Jones and Ripley combined once again, this time in the 42^nd minute.

York junior Brittany Simmons spoiled the Eagles' bid for a shutout as she converted a penalty stroke of her own in the 51^st minute.

However, Mary Washington quickly regained their four-goal margin as less than three minutes later Jones finished another chance, notching a hat trick. The Eagles now owned a significant 5-1 lead.

Simmons scored one more time for the Spartans, as she tallied her sixth goal of the 2010 campaign. The junior's tally cut the Mary Washington lead to 5-2 but proved too little too late for the visitors.

On the day, the Eagles led 14-6 in shots while the Green and White posted a 15-8 advantage in penalty corners.

York returns to action on Wednesday, October 20, when they host McDaniel in a non-conference match. Game time is slated for 4:00 pm.

GAME BOX

Brittany Simmons photo courtesy of Brent Duffy