WASHINGTON, D.C. – The York College men's lacrosse squad scratched and clawed their way to a 9-7 victory Saturday afternoon over former Capital Athletic Conference foe Catholic. The visiting Spartans improve their 2010 record to 3-5 while ending the Cardinals' bid for a flawless season (5-1).

Despite being outshot (39-31), beaten in ground ball totals (27-13) and faceoff wins (12-7), and giving Catholic 11 extra-man opportunities, the Green and White still found a way to capture the victory.

One of those reasons was the play of senior goalkeeper and captain Chris Collins (Westminster, Md./Westminster). Faced with a barrage of Catholic attempts, Collins proved capable as he made 16 stops for the Spartan side, including seven in Catholic's 12-shot first quarter.

On the offensive end, fellow senior Ryan McNicholas (Fallston, Md./Fallston) led the way for the Green and White as he tallied a team-high three scores. That trio of goals increases McNicholas' season total to 20, just two shy of current Spartan leader Josh Gamble (Easton, Md./Easton). The senior's third goal of the game proved to be the eventual game-winner as he tallied York's eighth of the contest off an Adam Cooper (Bel Air, Md./Bel Air) assist with just 3:15 remaining.

Outstanding youngsters Jamie Lowe (Monrovia, Md./Urbana) and B.J. Blaker (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) each posted two scores for the Green and White while the aforementioned Gamble tallied one on the day. Gamble's lone goal of the afternoon, coming with a mere 19 seconds to go in the second quarter, gave York a 5-4 advantage. That tally put the Spartans up for good as they never relinquished the lead.

The Spartan lead would stretch to as much as three at 7-4 when Lowe recorded his second of the day with 10:02 remaining in the third.

York was forced to grind out the final 15 minutes as the Cardinals touched up the Spartans for three scores in the frame. With only 1:34 to play, Catholic's Chris Fuccillo brought his squad to within one at 8-7 with the Cardinals' third of the quarter. However, York's Dan Schuck (Leonardtown, Md./St. Mary's Ryken) won the ensuing faceoff as Cooper picked up the loose ball. The Spartans then capped their total and added an insurance tally when McNicholas found Lowe for the game's final score just 14 seconds after Fucillio's.

Now back in the win column, the Spartans will look to ride that momentum into their lengthy CAC slate. York begins a stretch of seven straight conference duels, a stretch that leads up to the CAC Tournament, on Wednesday, March 24, when they host Hood at Kinsley Field in a 3:30 p.m. tilt.

GAME BOX

Ryan McNicholas photo courtesy of Zach Clabaugh - www.sharpedgephoto.smugmug.com