YORK, PA – The York College women's soccer squad dropped a tough 2-1 decision to Penn State Harrisburg on a sunny Wednesday afternoon in York. The game was originally scheduled to be in Middletown but an unplayable field moved the contest to Graham Field. The win is the first-ever for the Lions over the Spartans in women's soccer.

Game #11

Records: York (3-6-1, 1-1 CAC), Penn State Harrisburg (5-7, 2-1 CAC)

Shots: York 12, Harrisburg 5

Shots on Goal: York 3, Harrisburg 2

Corner Kicks: York 4, Harrisburg 3

Saves: York 0, Harrisburg 2

Fouls: York 8, Harrisburg 10

How It Happened

• The Spartans got off to a fantastic start against the Lions. In the second minute of the game, the Spartans pressured deep into Harrisburg's defensive zone. Sophomore Alyssa Rankin got the ball in the middle of the box and had her shot saved by a hard-charging Kayla Arnold. The ball squirted free to Rankin's left off a Harrisburg defender. Maxine Herman collected the loose ball and drove home the rebound for the game's opening goal, 2:24 into the game. The goal was Herman's third of the year.

• York continued to apply pressure to the Lions' defense but York was whistled for six off-sides calls in the half.

• The Lions tied the score off a Spartan defensive breakdown at the top of their own box. The Lions played it long to the top of the Spartan box and two York defenders converged to play the ball. Harrisburg's Kristen Stark was hustling on the play and when the two Spartans failed to play the ball, she scooped up the loose ball and chipped it over the head of Spartan goalie Brittany Cullison for the equalizer. Stark's goal was her sixth of the year and came with 7:54 before the half.

• York held a 6-3 margin in shots and a 2-0 edge in corner kicks in the first 45 minutes of play.

• The Lions wasted little time in booting home the go-ahead goal early in the second half. Harrisburg's Erica Hile collected a loose ball and ripped a 35 yard shot that went over the head of Cullison and under the cross bar for the eventual game-winning goal. The goal came 6:25 into the second half.

• York had its chances in the second half but failed to put their shots on target. York had six second half shots but put just one on target. The Spartans had two open shots from inside the box but neither attempt came close to the cage.

Individual Leaders

York

Maxine Herman (York, Pa./Dover): 1 goal, 2 shots, 1 shot on goal

Alyssa Rankin (Joppa, Md./Edgewood): 1 shot, 1 shot on goal

Victoria Niller (Lutherville, Md./Notre Dame Prep): 1 shot, 1 shot on goal

PSU Harrisburg

Kristen Stark: 1 goal, 3 shots, 1 shot on goal

Erica Hile: 1 goal, 1 shot, 1 shot on goal

Raquel Grace: 1 shot

Goalie Comparison

Brittany Cullison (YCP): 90:00 minutes, 2 goals against, 0 saves (Loss, 3-7-1)

Kayla Arnold (PSUH): 90:00 minutes, 1 goal against, 2 saves (Win, 3-3)

Match Notes:

The loss is the first for the Spartans against the Lions as York came into the game 4-0 all-time against Harrisburg … the six first-half off sides and the seven total calls in the game against York is the single game high for the Spartans and is exactly half of the 14 off sides calls the Spartans have been whistled for in the first ten games of the year combined … The Lions won the game despite being outshot 12-5 … the Spartans have now lost two games this year despite allowing less than six shots … York lost to F&M 1-0 after surrendering just three shots and then today's loss in allowing five shots … the Spartans are now 3-2-1 when allowing single digits in opponent's shots … Brittany Cullison failed to record a save for the first time in her 11 game Spartan career.

Up Next:

The Spartans takes back to the road on Saturday when they head to Mary Washington to face the Eagles in the rematch of the 2015 CAC championship game. The match in Fredericksburg is set for a 1:00 pm kick off.

Maxine Herman photo courtesy of David Sinclair Photography