DOVER, DE – The York College men's lacrosse squad
picked up their fifth straight win on Wednesday evening with a
tight 15-14 victory over host Wesley College. The Capital Athletic
Conference win gives the Spartans a 7-5 record including an
undefeated 4-0 mark in conference action while the Wolverines drop
to 2-8 and 1-3 in league play.
With less than five minutes to play, the Spartans found
themselves down 14-13. Wesley's Justin D'Alonzo put the
home squad up one with his third of the day as only 4:31 remained
on the clock.
The Spartans however, used to close games at this point in the
year as four of their previous 11 contests have been decided by
four goals or less, continued to battle. That effort paid off over
the final minutes.
Following D'Alonzo's score, York's
John Powell (Mt. Airy, Md./Urbana) knotted the
game at 14-14 with 3:26 remaining in the CAC tilt. Sophomore
Marcus Coppola (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright)
provided the assist on Powell's fifth of the season.
With the game officially up-for-grabs, York would seize the
opportunity. Ryan McNicholas (Fallston,
Md./Fallston), who has been an offensive juggernaut this
season, proved the hero on this day as he tallied the game-winner.
McNicholas finished off a feed from Brendan McLaughlin
(Brookeville, Md./Good Counsel), the senior's
38th goal of the season, with only 2:17 left.
Those waning minutes would be venturesome for both sides. With
1:39 showing on the fourth quarter clock, junior defenseman
Travis Atwell (Dunkirk, Md./Southern) was called
for slashing penalty, a miscue that gave the Wolverines a valuable
man-advantage opportunity. Just nine seconds into the minute-long
penalty, Wesley's Eric Crumbock looked to cash-in on that
opportunity. His attempt however went begging as Spartan goalkeeper
Chris Collins (Westminster, Md./Westminster) came
up with the save to preserve the one-goal lead. The Spartans would
successfully kill off the remainder of the penalty and only allow
the Wolverines one more shot throughout the remainder of the
contest – a Dan Skeels attempt that flew wide – to
secure the 15-14 triumph.
The entire game proved a nip-and-tuck affair as neither side led
by more than three throughout the contest.
Wesley took an early 3-0 lead, however the Spartans then
responded with an 8-3 run to garner an 8-6 halftime lead.
York's lead would grow to as much as three on several
occasions, the final of which came at 12-9 with 43 seconds left in
the third quarter.
Junior attackman Josh Gamble (Easton,
Md./Easton) proved an offensive force once again as he
notched a game-high five goals. Those five up his season total to
38 as he is currently tied with McNicholas for the team lead in
goals. McNicholas ended the game with two goals, including that
game-winner, while dishing out two assists. Powell and B.J.
Blaker (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) each added a pair of
tallies while junior Adam Cooper (Bel Air, Md./Bel
Air) posted a goal and two helpers.
Dan Schuck (Leonardtown, Md./St. Mary's
Ryken) continues to perform well in face-offs, winning
16-of-30 against the Wolverines while Zach Scherr
(Reisterstown, Md./Franklin) collected four ground balls.
Atwell caused three turnovers to lead York defensively while
James Greenwood (Bel Air, Md./Fallston) nabbed
five ground balls for the Spartans.
Collins records the win in net for the Green and White as he
made six saves.
Skeels led the Wolverine offense with four goals, while he also
picked up a trio of ground balls. D'Alonzo tallied three for
the home squad while three others notched two scores each.
Kevin Lion registered five ground balls while Ken McDonald
caused a trio of turnovers. Sean Matthews takes the loss in the
Wolverine goal despite making ten stops.
York will look to stretch their current winning streak to six
games, and their CAC record to 5-0, when they host St. Mary's
on Saturday, April 10. Prior to the 1:00 p.m. contest, the Spartans
are slated to celebrate Senior Day as they honor their eight senior
student-athletes.
GAME BOX
Photo courtesy of Zach Clabaugh - www.sharpedgephoto.smugmug.com
