GRANTHAM, PA – The York College men's lacrosse team
battled the elements and the Messiah College Falcons on Saturday
and the Green and White emerged victorious as the Spartans notched
a 16-10 non-conference win in the wet and blustery conditions in
Grantham, Pa. The Spartans, who snap a two-game losing skid,
improve to 2-4 while the Falcons fall to 0-3.
The Spartans jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead less than six
minutes into the game. Junior Josh Gamble (Easton,
Md./Easton) tallied two goals as his two scores sandwiched
a B.J. Blaker (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) giving
York the early lead. The Falcons scored three of the final four
goals of the quarter as the Spartans led 4-3 after one.
York seized control of the game in the second quarter as the
Green and White ripped off four goals to take an 8-3 lead with 3:11
left before the half. Ryan McNicholas (Fallston,
Md./Fallston), Gamble, Jamie Low (Monrovia,
Md./Urbana), and Blaker scored in the period as the
Spartans picked up their four goals on just nine shots. Messiah
scored at the 2:37 mark as the guests took an 8-4 lead to the
break.
The Spartans opened the third quarter by scoring four of the
first five goals of the second half as the lead grew to 12-5 with
6:27 left in the third. Adam Cooper (Bel Air, Md./Bel
Air) and Kevin Topper (Marriottsville,
Md./Liberty) each had man advantage goals in the period.
Messiah scored the next three goals covering the final minutes of
the third quarter and open moments of the fourth as the Falcons
trimmed the York lead to four at 12-8. The Spartans put the game
away with four of the next five goals, increasing the lead to 16-9
with 4:59 left. Cooper and Gamble each scored man advantage goals
for York to close out the Spartan scoring. Messiah scored
inside the last minute of the game to provide for the final
six-goal Spartan advantage.
The Spartans were fantastic on the man advantage as they went
6-for-12 while they were penalized just four times in the contest.
Messiah went 0-for-4 in their man advantage situations. The
Spartans entered the game having converted just 28% (10-of-35) of
their man advantage opportunities this year.
Gamble was huge in the win as he poured in seven points on five
goals and a pair of assists. He scored his goals on nine shots in
the game with seven of those shots being on target. Lowe and Cooper
each had four points with Cooper getting three goals and an assist
while Lowe had two goals and two assists. McNicholas chipped in
with three points on a pair of goals and one helper. Blaker was the
final Spartan with multiple points as he notched a pair of goals.
Phil Wendt led the Falcons with three goals while J.J. Miller
added two. Messiah had scored just three goals in their previous
two games this season.
The Spartans outshot the Falcons 50-27 while Messiah held a
35-23 advantage in ground balls. The Falcons won 18 of the 29 face
offs in the game while the Spartans failed on just three clears as
they were successful on 26 of their 29 clears.
Chris Collins (Westminster, Md./Westminster)
earned the win in goal for York as he made seven saves for the
Green and White. Josh Stewart took the loss as he allowed all 16
Spartan goals in his 57:54 of work. Steve Kozuhowski recorded one
save in his 2:06 between the pipes for Messiah.
York returns to action on Tuesday afternoon when they host
Dickinson College in a non-conference contest. Game time at Kinsley
Field is set for 3:30 pm.
