YORK, Pa. – For the second-consecutive season the York College men's lacrosse team has taken down a top-five opponent on its home turf as the 11th-ranked Spartans defeated No. 5 Gettysburg 9-7 on Wednesday at Kinsley Field. The win for York avenges a 12-6 loss to the Bullets last season on the road in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

The Basics: 

Game Number: 5

Site: Kinsley Field – York, Pa.

Records: York (5-0) / Gettysburg (2-2)

Series: Tied 1-1

How it happened:

• The Bullets jumped on the board first with a goal by Blake Gray five minutes into the first quarter, but then Andrew Gamble tied it up with 6:02 left in the first to close out the scoring in the opening quarter.
• Both squads came out with guns blazing in the second quarter as they combined for seven goals. Freshman Austin Glab tallied the first goal of the quarter to put York up 2-1, but then the Bullets answered right back with two quick goals to go ahead 3-2.
• The Spartans responded with a pair of goals of their own as Ryan Cook set up Dan Kaplan for a man-up goal and then Joseph Joseph tallied a goal two minutes later to put his squad ahead 4-3.
• Gettysburg then answered back with two more goals to close out the second quarter and take a 5-4 lead into halftime.
• In the third quarter, the Spartans gained a boost of momentum as sophomore captain Joey Fiorino knotted the score up at 5-5 as he cut through the Bullet defense and ripped a shot to the back of the twine on the fast break.
• A little over 30 seconds later, the Spartans added to their momentum by tallying a goal on the man-advantage as Glab set up Gamble for his 13th goal of the season.
• The two teams combined for three goals in the final three minutes of the third quarter as York owned a 2-1 advantage in that stretch with goals by Matt Whitcher and Hunter Davis.
• The Bullets gave the Spartans a scare as they pulled within one with 6:31 left to play, but York held tough and received the game-clinching goal by Dillon Hannah with 1:22 left to go ahead 9-7.
• The Spartan defense stepped up big in the fourth quarter, especially senior All-American goalkeeper Caleb Abney who made six saves in the final quarter.

Spartan Leaders:

Andrew Gamble – 2 points on 2 goals

Austin Glab – 2 points on 1 goal and 1 assist

Joseph Joseph – 2 points on 1 goal and 1 assist

Joey Fiorino – 2 caused turnovers

J.D. Beck – 2 caused turnovers

Josh Kluver – 5 ground balls

Conrad Ordakowski – 5 ground balls

Jake Katchmark – 11-for-20 on face-offs

President Leaders:

Tommy Heller – 2 points on 2 goals

Blake Gray – 2 points on 1 goal and 1 assist

Ivan Morris – 2 points on 1 goal and 1 assist

Chris Palladino – 2 caused turnovers, 6 ground balls

Geff Fulgione – 9-for-18 on face-offs

Goalie Comparison

Caleb Abney (YCP) – 57:40, 15 saves, 7 GA (Win, 5-0)

Tim Brady (GC) – 60:00, 15 saves, 9 GA (Loss, 2-2)

James Anderson (YCP) – 2:20, 1 save, 0 GA

Game Notes:

The Spartans are out their first 5-0 start in program history … York picked up it's second win all-time against a top-five team (2/25/14 – 8-7 win over #4 Washington College) … Spartans pick up second win this season over a top-10 team and do it in consecutive games … Gamble has scored a point in every game this season and has not scored less than two points in a game … Davis also extends his point streak to five games with a goal in each game … Hannah has also recorded a point in all five games this season … Abney recorded his highest save total of the season with 15 and has 27 in his last two games.

What's Next

York returns to action next Wednesday at home in a non-conference contest against Elizabethtown at 4:00 p.m.

Photo courtesy of David Sinclair