HILLSIDE, N.J. – On Wednesday afternoon, the York College men's soccer team did something they had not done since the 2004 season. Suffer a regular season loss on the road.

The #23 Spartans were handed their second defeat of the 2010 campaign, as Kean University dropped the Green and White 2-1 in Hillside, N.J. In a game that featured 12 total cards, the Spartans fall to 4-2 while Cougars improve to 3-2-1.

Things looked bright early on for the visitors as senior midfielder Lucas Emil put the Spartans up 1-0 in the 21st minute of play. Deadly on set pieces, Emil found the back of the net as his free kick, from just outside the Cougar penalty area, eluded Kean goalkeeper Tyler Callahan.

That would prove however, to be the only Spartan attempt that did.

The Green and White would take that 1-0 advantage into the half only to have it evaporate shortly after. Following the break, it took Kean only 6:21 to tally the equalizer. On the Cougars lone corner kick of the match, Michael Custidiano served a ball that allowed Anthony Crouchelli to knock home the tying score.

With the score deadlocked at one apiece, the Spartans desperately searched for the go-ahead tally. The Green and White rattled off nine shots over the next 19:11 including a stretch of seven straight attempts.

The Spartan efforts however would prove fruitless and it would be Kean that notched the go-ahead tally.

In the match's 81st minute, Stephen Moll found Tiago Goetzke, releasing the sophomore forward for a breakaway attempt. Goetzke did not disappoint the home crowd as he finished the opportunity, tallying what would prove to be the game-winner.

For the contest, York outshot their hosts 18-8 while also owning a significant 9-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Callahan picks up the win in the Kean net after making six stops on the day. Spartan starter Jesse Derksen is saddled with the loss as he totaled one save.

The Green and White's last regular season road loss came at Elizabethtown (2-0) on October 16, 2004. Since that time and before this afternoon's loss, the Spartans had accumulated an outstanding 43-0-6 regular season road record.

York last suffered two regular season losses during the 2005 campaign when they fell to Messiah (2-1 in OT) and Salisbury (1-0) in back-to-back contests. However, after that Salisbury loss on September 17, 2005, the Green and White went on a blistering 10-0-1 run to end the regular season. That hot streak pushed the Spartans to three more wins during the Capital Athletic Conference Tournament, allowing York to take home its first CAC Tournament championship since 1998, and into their first NCAA Tournament.

This year's squad will look to begin a similar streak when they take to the pitch on Friday, September 17. The Green and White make a return trip to New Jersey, this time taking on #12 Stevens Tech in an under-the-lights 7:00 p.m. non-conference tilt from Hoboken.

GAME BOX

Lucas Emil photo courtesy of Brent Duffy