YORK, Pa. – In their final regular season game of 2010 the York College field hockey squad suffered an 8-1 defeat as visiting Franklin & Marshall spoiled the Spartans' Senior Day festivities. The loss drops the Green and White to 9-10 on the season, the first time they have been below .500 since holding a 2-3 mark earlier in the year. With the win, the Diplomats improve to 9-7 on the campaign.

Becky Willert led the Franklin & Marshall attack as she tallied a par of goals on the afternoon. Willert, the Diplomats leading scorer with 11 on the season, notched her two in quick succession early in the second half.

In total, seven different F&M players recorded tallies for the visitors. Five of the scores were assisted including two helpers from Chelsey Talhelm.

The Spartans did spoil the shutout bid however, as Brittany Simmons converted a penalty stroke with no time remaining on the clock. Simmons' tally brings her season total to seven goals on the year.

For the game, the Diplomats held a 27-9 bulge in shots including a 23-7 margin in shots-on-goal. Franklin & Marshall also led in penalty corners 12-3.

Lydia Pirie suffers the loss in the cage as she made 11 saves. Pirie played well early on but the relentless Diplomat attack eventually opened the floodgates. Alanna Curtis relieved Pirie for the contest's final 13:28 as she made two stops. Sarah Dileo records the triumph for F&M as she made six saves, including several on airborne shots that she successfully batted away.

York will now set their focus on Sunday, October 31, as the Green and White open the 2010 Capital Athletic Conference Tournament. The Spartans travel to Dover, Del. on Halloween where they will take on the Wolverines in a 1:00 pm first-round tilt.

GAME BOX

Photo: York's five senior student-athletes - Casey Lawrence, Becky Reeves, Allison Roush, Kelly Kreamer, and Katie Dawkins - courtesy of Scott Guise