YORK, Pa. – The York College field hockey squad won their third straight contest and picked up their second Capital Athletic Conference tilt of the season, when the Spartans trumped visiting Hood by a commanding 6-0 result. The Green and White improve to 5-3, including 2-1 in CAC action, while the Blazers fall to 0-6 (0-2 CAC).

After a delayed start due to a thunderstorm that rolled through the York area, the Spartans controlled play from the outset. At the opening whistle, senior forward Allison Roush quickly carried the ball in the Hood end of the field – a place where the ball would stay for a vast majority of the contest. On the day, the York squad would post an incredible 45 shots as they peppered the Blazer cage throughout the 70 minutes of play.

However, it took nearly 15 minutes before the Green and White registered their first, and eventual game-winning, tally. As the game neared the 15-minute mark, Roush took a shot that was initially saved by Hood netminder Ashley Stennett. The rebound caused a scrum to ensue in front of the net where senior forward Katie Dawkins was able to slip the ball to Casey Lawrence who knocked home the Spartans first of the day and Lawrence's fifth of the season.

Lawrence's tally opened the floodgates as the Spartans then embarked on a five-goal barrage that would take place over a period of23:07.

Roush scored back-to-back tallies, on assists from Colleen O'Rourke and Dawkins, at the 32:54 and 36:04 marks respectively.

After Roush's pair, Dawkins notched consecutive scores of her own. At the 41:35 mark, Dawkins finished off a ball from Sandee Reich for her second of the season. Less than nine minutes later, Dawkins notched her third of the year after dodging several Blazer defenders and beating an oncoming Stennett.

York finished their offensive torrent as the game spilled into the 57^th minute. From near the top of the circle, Roush struck a hard ball toward the Blazer cage. Brittany Simmons, who proved to be in the right place at the right time, just got her stick to Roush's effort as she tipped the ball into the Hood goal for her third score of the season.

Roush, who added an assist to her two goals, now leads the Green and White with an impressive 18 points on the season. She has posted five goals and a team-leading eight assists. Reich and Lawrence have also each notched five scores.

York also put together an exceptional defensive effort as the Green and White did not allow a single Blazer shot throughout the entire 70 minutes. Furthermore, the Blazers only recorded one penalty corner while the Spartans registered 27.

Over their previous two contests, the Spartans have registered 13 goals and have not given up a single goal while only surrendering a total of six shots.

The Spartans will look to ride their current wave of momentum when they travel to Dover, Del. to take on Wesley on Saturday, September 25. The CAC tilt is slated for a 12:00 pm start.

GAME BOX

Katie Dawkins photo courtesy of Theresa Dark - Athletic Communications practicum student