YORK, Pa. – The sixth-ranked York College men's lacrosse team pulled away late in the fourth quarter to lock up a 10-6 victory over an upset-minded squad form Elizabethtown College on Wednesday afternoon at Kinsley Field.

The Basics: 

Game Number: 6

Site: Kinsley Field – York, Pa.

Records: York (6-0) / Elizabethtown (4-3)

Series: Tied 1-1

How it happened:

• Matt Whitcher opened the scoring as he put the Spartans ahead 1-0 five minutes into the game on an unassisted even-strength goal. York finished the period with just one goal on nine shots on goal.
• Elizabethtown tallied a goal late in the first quarter and then tacked on another towards the end of the second quarter to take a 2-1 advantage.
• Whitcher tacked on another with less than five minutes to play in the first half to pull even, 2-2, heading into the break.
• The Blue Jays started the second half with a three-goal run, capped off by their second man-down goal of the game, to take a 5-3 lead less than five minutes into the half.
• The Spartans responded with a three-goal run over their own, which spanned the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth. Hunter Davis tallied two of the three goals on that run as he put York back on top, 6-5.
• With 5:45 left to play, Elizabethtown tallied an equalizer to make it 6-6, but York ripped off four straight goals in the last five minutes of play, led by Dillon Hannah who had two of the final four.

Spartan Leaders:

Matt Whitcher – 3 points on 3 goals

Cameron Leech – 3 points on 1 goal and 2 assists

Joey Fiorino – 3 caused turnovers

Andrew Gamble – 4 ground balls

Jake Katchmark – 14-for-18 on face-offs, 9 ground balls

Blue Jay Leaders:

Joe Clark – 3 points on 1 goal and 2 assists

Jake Snyder – 2 caused turnovers

Mike Tangredi – 2 caused turnovers

Jeremy Klipple – 2 caused turnovers

Nick Specht – 4 ground balls

Davis Miracle – 4 ground balls

Matt Rucci – 3-for-12 on face-offs

Goalie Comparison

Caleb Abney (YCP) – 56:51, 7 saves, 5 GA, 1 caused turnover, 1 ground ball (Win, 6-0)

Davis Miracle (EC) – 60:00, 23 saves, 10 GA (Loss, 4-3)

James Anderson (YCP) – 3:09, 1 GA, 1 ground ball

Game Notes:

The two-goal deficit (5-3) in the third quarter is the largest deficit York has faced this season … the Spartans recorded 50 total shots for the game and is the second game this season they have recorded 50+ shots in a game (65 vs W&J) … York recorded its worst shot percentage (20.0%) of the season, but the third-best shot-on-goal percentage (66.0%) of the season … the Spartans recorded their most caused turnovers of the season with 15 … Davis Miracle's 23 saves is the most by an opposing goalkeeper this season … Davis extends his point and goal streak to six games with two goals today … Gamble extends his point streak to six games with an assist today … Hannah extends his point streak to six games with two goals today …  Whitcher recorded his second career hat trick and tied his career-highs in goals and points.

What's Next

York will compete in the Greene Turtle Classic hosted by Stevenson University on Friday and Saturday. The Spartans face No. 9 Nazareth on Friday at 3:00 p.m. and then will face No. 14 Lynchburg on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.

Matt Whitcher photo courtesy of Joe Rodgers