Box Score YORK, PA – The York College women's soccer squad captured an important 3-2 Capital Athletic Conference victory over Wesley College on Wednesday afternoon in York.
The Spartans snap a four-match losing streak as they improve to 4-8 overall and 2-3 in the CAC. The Wolverines fall to 5-6-2 overall and 2-3 in the conference with the loss.
The Spartans got on the board early as the Rankin sisters got the York offense started. Caitlin Rankin (Joppa, Md./Edgewood) carried the ball down the right wing. She settled a beautiful pass to sister Alyssa Rankin (Joppa, Md./Edgewood) who volleyed a shot over Wesley goalie Taylor Lynch and inside the left post for her first collegiate goal. The goal came just under five minutes into the game. It is the first time this season that the Rankin sisters have played together in the starting lineup.
The Green and White had a great chance to add to the lead in the 12th minute as freshman Emily Huey (Pocomoke City, Md./Snow Hill) blasted a shot from the top of the box that just brushed the outside of the right post for the near miss. York continued to control the tempo as the Green and White missed a pair of close chances a mere two minutes later as York carried the play.
The York pressure paid off in the 16th minute of the game as senior Jamie Sokolis (Perry Hall, Md./Perry Hall) slotted a beautiful pass from the right wing into the box. Sophomore Maxine Herman (Dover, Pa./Dover) finished the chance with authority as the York lead grew to 2-0.
The Green and White continued to pour it on as Sokolis notched her second goal of the year off a pass from Alyssa Rankin with 23:32 left in the opening half of play.
The Spartans finished the first half holding an 11-1 margin in shots on goal while they also had a 3-1 advantage in corner kicks.
The Wolverines spoiled the shutout in the 62nd minute as Janiah Moore stole a pass from a Spartan defender and beat Spartan goalie Stevi Lukacz (Leesport, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) with a long shot from the top of the box.
Moore struck again in the 73th minute as she collected a loose ball 30 yards out and banged a shot off the left post and into the goal, cutting York's lead to 3-2. The goal was Moore's second of the game and 13th of the year.
The Green and White spent the rest of the game peppering the Wesley net but reserve goalie Antonia Pote was up to the task. Pote recorded six second half saves in relief of Lynch as she kept the Spartans off the board.
The Spartans finished the game with a 22-4 edge in total shots including a 12-3 margin in shots on goal. The Spartans had eight corner kicks to just one for Wesley.
Senior Kate Lutte (Catasauqua, Pa. /Catasauqua) earned the win in net for York as she played the opening 45 minutes. Lutte was not forced to make a save and only faced one first half shot. Lukacz surrendered two goals and made one save in her 45 minutes of play in the second half. Lynch took the loss for Wesley as she allowed three goals and made three saves in the opening 45 minutes of play.
The Spartans return to action on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Salisbury University to face the Sea Gulls in a CAC contest. Game time from Salisbury, Maryland is set for 1:00 pm.
Jamie Sokolis photo courtesy of Taylor Gamber
