Box Score SALISBURY, Md. – The York College men's lacrosse team accomplished the unthinkable on Saturday as the Spartans knocked off previously unbeaten Salisbury University 10-9 to capture their first ever Capital Athletic Conference Championship on Saturday in Salisbury, MD.
The Spartans, who entered the game ranked 12th in the nation, improved to 16-3 overall as they guaranteed their spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament with the conference's automatic bid. Salisbury falls to 18-1 as they suffer their first loss since May 13, 2015 when they dropped a 13-11 decision to Lynchburg College in the NCAA Division III national quarterfinals.
How It Happened
• The Spartans got on the board first as senior Andrew Gamble found the back of the net 3:40 into the game.
• York continued their early offensive push as Brendan McGrath and Dillon Hannah each scored unassisted goals just over a minute apart as York led 3-0 with 7:41 left in the opening quarter.
• The Sea Gulls got two of those goals back before the end of the quarter. Nathan Blondino found the back of the cage with 4:22 left in the quarter. Thomas Cirillo then recorded a huge goal with a mere two seconds left in the quarter as York's lead was cut to 3-2 heading to the second quarter.
• York bounced right back with a pair of big man-up goals. Hunter Davis scored a man-up goal off a pass from Hannah just 1:12 into the quarter and 30 second into the slashing penalty.
• McGrath netted his second goal on the man advantage with 3:50 left in the half as he scored off a feed from Gamble as the York lead grew to 5-2.
• Salisbury responded with a Christian Ottenritte tally just 16 seconds after McGrath's man up goal.
• McGrath continued his big offensive day as he answered Ottenritte's goal with a tally just 1:29 prior to the half as York took a 6-3 lead to the break.
• The Sea Gulls opened the second half scoring as Carson Kalama registered an unassisted goal 1:57 into the period.
• Freshman Thomas Pfeiffer scored a goal at the 9:33 mark, putting the Spartans up 7-4.
• The Gulls got back-to-back goals from Nick Garbarino, cutting York's lead to 7-6 with 6:37 left in the third.
• Gamble recorded an important goal with 4:48 remaining in the third to put York back up two heading to the fourth period.
• Salisbury's Garrett Reynolds scored an unassisted goal with 11:42 left in the game, again cutting the York lead to one.
• Gamble and Davis got back-to-back goals less than a minute apart as the Green and White lead grew to 10-7 with 5:37 left in the game.
• The Sea Gulls made it exciting with a pair of goals, from Garbarino and Blondino, with 1:44 and 1:17 left in regulation.
• Salisbury won the game's final face off as they had possession with 1:17 left in the game. The Sea Gulls' James Burton hit the post with 48 seconds left in regulation. The Sea Gulls retained possession but senior All-CAC defender Josh Kluver caused a turnover and the Spartans got possession and ran out the clock earning their first ever men's lacrosse title.
Spartan Leaders
• Andrew Gamble: 4 points on 3 goals and 1 assist, 4 ground balls
• Brendan McGrath: 4 points on 3 goals and 1 assist, 2 ground balls
• Dillon Hannah: 2 points on 1 goal and 1 assist, 1 ground ball
• Hunter Davis: 2 goals, 4 ground balls
• Josh Kluver: 5 caused turnovers, 2 ground balls
• J.D. Beck: 3 ground balls, 1 caused turnover
Sea Gull Leaders
• Nick Garbarino: 3 goals
• Nathan Blondio: 2 goals, 3 ground balls
• Thomas Cirillo: 2 points on 1 goal and 1 assist
• Kyle Tucker: 3 caused turnovers, 5 ground balls
• Andrew Ternahan: 2 caused turnovers, 4 ground balls
• T.J. Logue: 11-for-16 at the X, 5 ground balls
Goaltenders
• Caleb Abney (YCP): 58:54, 9 goals against, 10 saves (Win, 15-2)
• James Anderson (YCP): 1:06, 0 goals against, 1 save
• Colin Reymann (SAL): 60:00, 10 goals against, 10 saves (Loss, 8-1)
Game Notes:
York snaps a 22 game losing streak to Salisbury as York had never defeated the Gulls … Salisbury was York's first ever varsity opponent and the Sea Gulls ran up 30 goals in the 30-3 win on February 26, 2000 … Salisbury entered the game having outscored their 18 opponents by an average margin of almost 11 goals per game, the top scoring margin in Division III … It is just the third time in the 22 years of Salisbury's membership in the CAC that they failed to win the men's lacrosse championship (2010 – Stevenson and 2013 – St. Mary's) … York is just the fourth different team in the CAC to win a men's lacrosse crown … the 16 wins ties the school record for wins in season (2014, 16-5) … the win clinches the Spartans' second NCAA Tournament appearance … Salisbury's nine goals tied a season-low (March 19, 9-4 win over Mary Washington) … Salisbury had scored an average of 19.8 goals per game in their previous eight wins … Caleb Abney earned his 51st career goaltending win as he continues to increase his school record … Abney school record for saves is now 670, 302 over second place (Evan Mazzocchi, 468 saves) … The Spartans went 2-for-4 in the man-up in the win, the Sea Gulls entered the game allowing opponents a mere 23.2% success rate … The Spartans committed just two penalties and were able to kill off both extra man situations for the Gulls … Senior All-CAC defender Josh Kluver forced a season-high five caused turnovers … Kluver has forced 11 turnovers in the last three games including eight in the two CAC tournament wins …. The 10 goals by York is just the third time this year an opponent has scored double digits against Salisbury (February 17 vs. Lynchburg, 14-11 and March 6 against Ohio Wesleyan, 13-12 in ot) ... the championship for Brandon Childs is his 64th career victory in five years at the helm of the program … Childs owns 46.9% of the Spartans' men's lacrosse program wins ... Salisbury outshot York 37-31 while they also held a 31-30 edge in ground balls ... York won the turnover battle as they had two less miscues, 18-16.
They Said It:
"I am so very proud of my team! They played hard and executed the game plan. Our seniors led us the whole way. Andrew Gamble's three goals, Caleb's ten saves and Kluver's five caused turnovers including the one at the end of the game are senior plays. This will be something we will all remember for a long time." – Head Coach Brandon Childs
What's Next:
The Spartans will play in the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament. The tournament field will be announced on Sunday, May 8. The berth for the Spartans will the be the second in school history.
Championship photo courtesy of Sam Casale Photography
End of game Spartan Celebration
The Spartans receive the 2016 CAC Trophy
Video highlights courtesy of Salisbury University Athletic Communications Office
