Box Score YORK, PA – The York College field hockey squad remained unbeaten at home as the Spartans upset #15 Christopher Newport, 1-0, at Kinsley Field on Saturday morning.
The Spartans improve to 9-2 overall and 1-0 in the Capital Athletic Conference. York also improves to 7-0 at Kinsley Field. The Captains fall to 6-4 overall and suffer their first Capital Athletic Conference regular season loss after CNU went undefeated in regular season league play in 2013.
The Captains came out and took the play to the Green and White in the opening stages of the game but the defense and goalkeeper Jessica Everett (Windsor, Pa./Red Lion) were up to the task. The Captains fired off the first seven shots of the game as Everett notched saves on five of those shots.
The Spartans got all the offense they would need in the 25th minute of the game as freshman standout Ali Posey (Airville, Pa./Red Lion) got her tenth goal on a great individual effort. Posey collected a loose ball in the circle, made a reverse sweep on the right side and hit a shot that caromed off the blocker of goalie Savanah Cummings and into the cage for the Spartan goal. The tally came off the Spartans' first and only shot on goal of the day.
The Spartans took the lead to the half despite being on the short end of the stat sheet. The Captains held an 8-3 edge in shots including a 7-1 margin in shots on goal while CNU also had a 3-0 bulge in penalty corners.
The second half was much of the same as Christopher Newport continued to apply pressure to the Spartans defensive third. But much like the first half, the defense, spearheaded by seniors Katie Petrillo (Howell, N.J./Freehold Township) and Nancy Saylor (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) stood tall again and again.
The Captains best chance to tie the game came in the 53rd minute as Carol Thompson had a break away opportunity. As Thompson headed toward goal, Holly Martin (Hanover, Pa./South Western) chased her down and forced an early shot that slid wide of the mark, preserving the Spartan lead. The Captains had on other quality opportunity in the 68th minute as Belle Tunstall hit a rocket shot off a corner that Everett saved for York.
The Captains finished the game with a 24-3 bulge in shots including a 14-1 margin in shots on goal. CNU also had an 11-0 advantage in penalty corners.
Everett was outstanding as the freshman was cool under pressure with a career-high 12 saves. The shutout is her second of the year. Petrillo picked up a pair of defensive saves in the win.
Cummings surrendered a goal and did not make a save in her 70 minutes in cage for the Captains.
The Spartans return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Stevenson to face the Mustangs in a non-conference contest. Game time is scheduled for 4:00 pm in Owings Mills.
Ali Posey photo courtesy of Joe Rodgers
