Box Score YORK, PA – Two goals in the final six minutes of the game led the York College women's soccer team to a 2-0 win over Juniata College in a non-conference game on Wednesday afternoon in York.
The Spartans improve to 2-4 overall while the Eagles fall to 3-3-1 for the campaign.
It looked like it was going to be a scoreless game for the opening 84 minutes until freshman Caitlin Rankin (Joppa, Md./Edgewood) ran onto a loose ball and punched it past Juniata keeper Erin Muller for the first goal of the game. That snapped a Spartan scoreless streak of 297:41.
The Spartans got a second goal 1:06 later as Emily Huey (Pocomoke City, Md./Snow Hill) blasted a shot from more than 35 yards out that beat Muller for the Spartans' second tally.
The late game offensive fireworks were a bit unexpected after the opening 84 minutes of play.
The Spartans came out strong in the opening half, as York looked fresh after having a week off between games. York's Jordan Neiheiser (Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic) fired off the first shot of the game as she hit a bullet into the belly of Eagle keeper Kerry Leonard just a minute and a half into the game.
York's best first half scoring chance came in the 13th minute as sophomore Corie Elliott (Laurel, Md./Delmar) hit a beautiful header that looked like it would sneak under the cross bar. Unfortunately for York, Leonard got enough of the ball to force it off the cross bar and back into play. After the ball was batted around on the rebound, Leonard swooped in to collect the loose ball.
The Spartans continued to control play until midway through the half when the Eagles had a brief offensive spurt. Juniata had three corner kicks in a three minutes span including back-to-back opportunities in the 25th minute, the second of which created a dangerous chance as the ball pinged around the box for a few seconds before finally getting cleared by the York defense.
The Spartans held an 8-3 advantage in first half shots including a 3-0 margin in shots on goal.
Juniata had the first great chance of the second half as Kristen Behrens took the ball on the right wing and drove into the box. She unleashed a shot that looked like it was going to find the back of the net but York keeper Kate Lutte (Catasauqua, Pa./Catasauqua) extended high to stop the ball and record the save in the 51st minute of play.
In the 68th minute, Huey blasted a shot from outside the box that just missed the upper right 90, as the game remained scoreless.
The Spartans really started to push deep into the Eagles defensive third late in the game. York had a stretch of four great possessions that resulted in four quality shots but none of those opportunities were good enough to break the tie. However, that offensive charge would pay off less than ten minutes later with Rankin's game-winning goal.
The Spartans finished the game outshooting the Eagles 23-6 including 11-2 in shots on goal. Both teams registered four corner kicks for the match.
Lutte earned the win as she registered her second shutout of the year as she made two saves for the Green and White. Mueller suffered the loss as she played the second half for Juniata. Mueller made six saves and allowed two goals. Leonard played the first half and made three saves in her 45 minutes of work.
The Spartans return to action on Saturday afternoon when they head to Arlington, Virginia to face the Marymount Saints in the conference opener for both squads. Kick off from Long Bridge Park is set for 5:00 pm.
Caitlin Rankin photo courtesy of Joe Rodgers
