YORK, PA – The York College men's lacrosse team trailed after one quarter but raced past Eastern University in a non-conference rematch of NCAA tournament teams from a year ago. The Eagles, looking to avenge their post-season loss from last season, held a 2-1 lead, but York combined to outscore them 8-2 in the next 30 minutes behind three second-quarter scores from Brendan McGrath to improve to 2-0.

Records

#7 York: 2-0

Eastern: 0-1

Game Statistics

Shots: York 43, Eastern 31

Shots on Goal: York 27, Eastern 14

Saves: York 8, Eastern 14

Face Offs Won: York 11, Eastern 8

Ground Balls: York 39, Eastern 23

Turnovers: York 10, Eastern 12

Caused Turnovers: York 3, Eastern 2

Man Up: York 3-for-7, Eastern 0-for-3

Penalties: York 3-for-2:30, Eastern 7-for-5:30

How it Happened:
• Unlike the season opener, the Spartans were able to take the early lead, behind a Matt Whitcher goal, assisted by Brendan McGrath.

• Eastern, an NCAA tournament team last year, immediately responded with back-to-back goals to take the 2-1 lead. The Eagles held that one-goal advantage when the first quarter buzzer sounded, despite being out-shot by York 10-7.

• The Spartans again put the pressure on Eastern, unleashing 12 shots in the second period. Less than four minutes into the second, York pulled level, this time behind a Hunter Davis goal. Davis scored four times in the season opener, including the game winner against Washington & Lee. Whitcher notched his second of three points with the assist. Less than a minute late, McGrath regained the lead for York on an extra-man opportunity, as part of a monster second quarter. Whitcher scored again to keep the Eagles at arms-length.

• Eastern would again trim the lead to one, at 4-3, with 3:22 left in the half. McGrath, who had two goals and two assists against W&L, finished the second quarter in a flurry, scoring twice in the final 2:42 to give him three in less than 10 minutes.

• Austin Glab carried the scoring torch to open the third quarter, scoring twice in eight minutes, sandwiching a Taylor Tolbert goal, extending the York lead to 9-3. Cameron Leech assisted on Tolbert's goal, his second of three assists.

• After an Eastern goal, Thomas Pfeiffer, Dillon Hannah and Leech would partner to score and assist on the next four goals. York's 13-4 lead would be the largest of the game as Eastern would score twice in the final minute.

Spartan Leaders:
Brendan McGrath: 3 goals, 2 assists, 5 points, 6 shots on goal, 4 ground balls
Thomas Pfeiffer:  2 goals, 2 assists, 4 points, 3 shots on goal, 2 ground balls
Cameron Leech: 1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points, 2 shots on goal, 1 ground ball
Austin Glab: 2 goals, 2 point, 4 shots, 1 ground ball, 1 caused turnover
Joseph Joseph: 5 ground balls, 1 assist, 1 point
Billy Sasso: 8-of-13 at the X, 7 ground balls

Eagle Leaders: 
Bryan Goetz: 3 goals, 3 points, 3 shots on goal
Trevor Gallion: 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points, 4 shots on goal
Connor Lowry: 5-of-11 at the X

Goalie Comparision:
Landry Marshall (YCP): 57:27 minutes, 4 goals against, 7 saves (W, 2-0)
Jake White (YCP): 2:33 minutes, 2 goals against, 1 save
Jameal Hadeed (EU): 60:00 minutes, 13 goals against, 14 saves (L, 0-1)

Spartan Notes:
The victory was the fourth straight against the Eagles, advancing to 5-1 in the all-time series … with the win, York is now 34-12 under Brandon Childs at Kinsley Field … both wins this season have come against teams that York defeated in last year's NCAA tournament … Joseph Joseph set a career-high five ground balls … Brendan McGrath scored a career-high five goals, and dished out a career-high tying two assists … Landry Marshall saved a career-high seven shots, and tied a career high with three ground balls … Cameron Leech tied a pair of career highs: four points and three assists … Thomas Pfeiffer matched a career-high two assists.

Up next:
The Spartans will travel to Elizabethtown on Wednesday. York defeated the Blue Jays 10-6 at home last season.