OWINGS MILLS, MD – For the second time in three days, the
York College men's lacrosse team visited one of the top-three
teams in the country. And for the second time in three days, the
Spartans returned home having suffered an excruciating defeat.
On Thursday, the Green and White fell 24-6 to #3 Stevenson in the
Spartans' final regular-season contest of the 2010 campaign.
The defeat, York's third straight after winning five in a
row, drops the Spartan record to 7-8 (4-3 CAC) on the season while
the Mustangs improve to 14-1 (6-1 CAC).
In a déjà-vu-like moment, the Spartans tallied the
game's first score – just like they had in
Tuesday's eventual 19-4 loss at #1 Salisbury. The potent
tandem of Ryan McNicholas (Fallston, Md./Fallston)
and Josh Gamble (Easton, Md./Easton) combined to
give York a 1-0 lead just 1:01 into the contest. McNicholas'
43rd score of the season, Gamble's 21st assist, provided the
Green and White with what would prove to be there only lead of the
game.
That lead would not last long however, as Stevenson's Rob
Lamey responded for the Mustangs 2:39 later to knot the game at
1-1. Lamey's goal sparked an 8-0 run for the home squad,
providing the third-ranked Mustangs with an 8-1 cushion by the
12:57 mark of the second quarter.
York finally broke the spurt with a Kevin Topper
(Marriottsville, Md./Liberty) goal, courtesy of a
B.J. Blaker (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) helper,
at the 12:12 mark. But that would be as close as the Spartans would
get throughout the rest of the contest.
Stevenson's talented attack would go on to tally 16 more
times throughout the remaining 40:56. In total, 12 different
players scored for the home squad as they secured the 18-goal
victory.
To the Spartans' credit, they continued to battle despite the
deficit. Starting with Topper's second goal, which came on an
Adam Cooper (Bel Air, Md./Bel Air) assist with
7:01 to play in the third, the Green and White rattled off
three-straight tallies. Topper's notch was followed by
Blaker's 19th of the season just 1:43 later. Gamble then
finished the burst of offense with his 43rd of the year, this one
via a Jamie Lowe (Monrovia, Md./Urbana) helper,
with 1:53 to play in the third stanza.
For the game, Stevenson outshot York 50-39 while snagging 35 ground
balls to the Spartans' 20. The most glaring statistic
however, proved to be face-offs as the hosts won 26-of-34 including
all eight in the first quarter. The Mustangs also had a myriad of
extra-man opportunities, 12 in all, as they scored on six of those
chances.
Steve Kazimer, the preseason national Player-of-the-Year, tallied a
game-high five goals while also dishing out three assists. Richie
Ford, the Mustangs overall leader in points with 72, posted four
goals and four helpers while Neal Barthelme added four and two,
respectively. Jimmy Dailey registered three assists. Ray Witte was
nothing short of brilliant in face-offs, winning 14-of-16 while
picking up seven ground balls. In the goal, Ian Bolland picked up
the win as he made six saves in his 30 minutes of work.
For the Spartans, McNicholas tallied twice as he ups his season
total to a team-leading 44 goals. Gamble recorded a goal and an
assist while Topper scored two times. Lowe's assist improves
his rookie total to an impressive 25 on the year. Senior netminder
Chris Collins (Westminster, Md./Westminster)
suffered the loss while Michael Karwoski (Phoenixville,
Pa./Phoenixville) finished off the final 30 minutes in the
cage.
With the regular season now complete, the Spartans turn their
attention to the CAC Tournament. York opens up the league playoffs
on Sunday, April 18, when they host Mary Washington in an afternoon
tilt. Please visit www.cacsports.com for up-to-date tournament
information.
GAME BOX
Kevin Topper photo courtesy of Zach Clabaugh - www.sharpedgephoto.smugmug.com
