YORK, Pa. – For the first time since 1984 the York College Field hockey team can call itself victorious when facing Gettysburg as the Spartans ended a 12-game losing streak to the Bullets with a 3-2 win on Wednesday afternoon at Kinsley Field.

For the third-straight game, York (3-0) got on the scoreboard first as it was freshman Beth Patrick (Pitman, N.J./Pitman) who tallied her first collegiate goal after she maneuvered herself into the middle of the circle and slipped a quick shot to the lower right corner.

After turning away several Spartan shots just before the end of the first half, Gettysburg (1-1) landed a potential back-breaking blow as the Bullets notched a quick-strike goal as time expired in the first half. Gettysburg's Hanaha Fitzgerald sent in a hard pass from the outer right edge of the circle and found the waiting stick of Casey Eck on the backside post to put the tying goal in the back of the cage.

At the half, York and Gettysburg were fairly even in the box score as the Spartans held a 9-6 advantage and the Bullets held a slim 2-1 lead in penalty corners.

Head coach Carly Zinn explained the reason for the back-and-forth start and the adjustments they made at halftime.

"Gettysburg plays a different style than what we've faced so far and at halftime we talked about not conforming to the pace they [Gettysburg] were setting and just play our game," said Zinn.  "We started off frantic, but we settled down and we were able to use our style of play to maintain possession."

York's composure showed as the Spartans did not seemed fazed by letting up the late goal to end the first half as the Green and White notched its first go-ahead goal of the second half when freshman Ali Posey (Airville, Pa./Red Lion) scored her third goal of the season. Posey displayed great awareness and skill on the play as she swiftly poked in a rebounded shot by freshman Shania Gelvin (Hustontown, Pa./Forbes Road).

The Bullets once again matched York's scoring effort as the ladies from Gettysburg mounted a quick counterattack to notch their second goal of the contest less than a minute after the Spartans tallied theirs.

It appeared once again Gettysburg had made a significant attempt to try to flip the script of the game, but again the Spartans would not flinch.

Once more, York relied on its freshmen to step up with the game on the line and again received the result it needed. Freshman midfielder Sydney LaMarsh (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) worked her way into a good shooting position in the middle of the circle and unleashed a rocket to the lower right corner of the cage for the game-winner.

The third goal was all the Spartans needed as they maintained possession in their offensive zone, not allowing Gettysburg to record a single shot in the final 10 minutes of play.

Spartan goalkeeper Jessica Everett (Windsor, Pa./Red Lion) collected her third win of the season and improves to 3-0 as she made six saves with two goals allowed.

Coach Zinn is pleased with the start her team has compiled and the effort her players have put forth in preparation for the games.

"The entire outlook on this season is very positive. We may not have large numbers, but every single day is competitive as the players are challenged both physically and mentally in practice," explained Zinn. "The girls have been very receptive to the challenges we have given them as a coaching staff and there is a lot of initiative being taken which is something I am very proud of."

The Spartans return to action on Saturday and hit the road for the first time this season as they travel to Eastern Mennonite for a noon contest.

Alexa Taylor photo courtesy of Joe Rodgers