Box Score HARTFORD, CT – Freshman Regan Cook tallied the game-winning goal with 2:15 remaining in the first overtime to lift the York College women's lacrosse squad to an 8-7 win over Messiah College in the NCAA Division III Sweet 16 in Hartford, Connecticut. The win moves York into the national quarterfinals where they will face Trinity for the right to moved into the national semifinals next weekend.
Records:
#11 York (Pa.): 16-3
#4 Messiah: 16-3
Game Stats
Shots: York 23 / Messiah 18
Shots on Goal: York 15 / Messiah 19
Ground Balls: York 18 / Messiah 10
Saves: York 8 / Messiah 11
Draw Controls: York 11 / Messiah 7
Free Position Shots: York 3-for-9 / Messiah 1-for-5
Clears: York 10-for-11 / Messiah 5-for-5
Turnovers: York 12 / Messiah 14
Caused Turnovers: York 10 / Messiah 11
Fouls: York 19 / Messiah 45
How It Happened:
• It was a defensive battle early on in the contest. Both teams had a few chances early in the game as York had a pair of free position attempts in the first six minutes of the game. York wasn't able to convert as the game remained scoreless.
• The Falcons opened the scoring on their next possession as Jenna Stover scored off a pass from Ida Ehrhardtwith 24:35 left in the first half to break the ice.
• The Green and White wasted little time tying the score as Kayleigh Phillips notched an unassisted tally less than two minutes later, knotting the game at one.
• The Falcons recaptured the lead just over nine minutes later as Courtney Wagner fed Jenna Stover for the goal with 13:10 remaining in the opening half.
• Messiah would hold onto the lead until the Spartans got a free position shot with 13 seconds remaining in the opening half. Sophomore Caitlin Rankin deposited the shot into the back of the net, tying the game at two heading to the intermission.
• The second half was far more explosive in the respective offensive thirds as the two offensive units started to gain traction in the game. The teams traded goals to open the half as Kendra Herbenar opened the scoring with an unassisted goal at the 27:22 mark to give the Falcons the 3-2 lead. Freshman Meghan Fox tied the game just over six minutes later as she notched a man-up goal.
• The back and forth pattern continued with the next four goals as Messiah took a 4-3 lead on an Ehrhardt goal followed by a Melissa Meehling tally three minutes later. Stephanie Athens gave the Falcons a 5-4 lead with a goal at the 11:40 mark of the second half. Meehling tied the score again with a free position goal at the 8:59 mark.
• Freshman Regan Cook then tallied the next two goals, scoring with 8:15 left in regulation and again with 5:43 remaining as York took a 7-5 lead.
• Athens cut the Falcon deficit in half with a goal 35 seconds later as the York lead dwindled to 7-6. After a card on the Spartans, Courtney Wagner tied the game on a free position shot with 3:16 left in the game.
• The Falcons won the ensuing draw and Elle Bargar fired off a shot wide. Barger then drew a foul on York but Charlotte Wright stopped Bargar's free position shot with 2:29 left in the game. York got a clear and a Skye Slater shot but Falcon goalie Alexa Dipeso registered the save as the final two minutes would prove to be uneventful as the teams headed to overtime.
• The overtime would start with Messiah winning the draw but Fox forced a Messiah turnover as York quickly gained possession. The Spartans got a pair of shots that were saved by Dipeso in the first minute of overtime.
• After the second Spartan shot gave Messiah possession, the CAC Player of the Year Nicole Clauter forced a second Messiah turnover in overtime, gaining York the key possession. After showing good patience on offense, Katelyn Cattrano hit Cook with a pass and the freshman banged home the shot for the game-winning goal with 2:15 left in the overtime.
Spartan Leaders
Regan Cook: 3 goals, 1 game-winning goal
Melissa Meehling: 2 goals, 1 assist, 2 ground balls, 1 draw control, 1 caused turnover
Meghan Fox: 1 goal, 2 ground balls, 1 draw control, 1 caused turnover
Caitlin Rankin: 1 goal, 6 ground balls, 1 caused turnover
Nicole Clauter: 5 draw controls, 1 caused turnover
Kayleigh Phillips: 1 goal, 2 draw controls
Falcon Leaders
Ida Erhardt: 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 draw controls, 1 ground ball, 1 caused turnover
Jenna Stover: 2 goals
Stephanie Athens: 2 goals, 2 draw controls
Brooke Gamble: 4 ground balls, 3 caused turnovers
Courtney Wagner: 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 caused turnover
Goalie Comparison
Charlotte Wright (YCP): 63:45 minutes played, 7 goals against, 8 saves (Win, 16-3)
Alexa Dipeso (MC): 63:45 minutes played, 8 goals against, 11 saves (Loss, 16-3)
Game Notes:
The Spartans beat Messiah for the second time this year as they are now 5-4 all-time against the Falcons … York has won five straight against the Falcons after starting 0-4 in the series … York defeated Messiah in Grantham 9-5 on March 8 … York is now 6-5 all-time in the NCAA Tournament … York is now 1-1 in neutral site games in the NCAA Tournament … the Spartan win snapped Messiah's 14 game win streak … York was the last team to beat the Falcons before they embarked on the win streak … both of York's wins have come by one goal as they are now 2-1 in one-goal games for the year … the Spartan defense has taken the spotlight as York has allowed just 11 goals in 123:45 of action in two NCAA Tournament games … York ranks eighth in the country in scoring defense as they are allowing just under six goals per game … Freshman Regan Cook recorded the game winning goal and got three goals in the win … Cook was playing just her second game since returning to the field after an illness cost her five games at the end of the year … Cook, who was a first-team All-CAC and All-Metro regional selection, now has 27 goals for the Spartans, the second highest total on the team behind CAC Rookie of the Year Meghan Fox who has 38 goals … sophomore Caitlin Rankin had a career-high six ground balls in the victory for York … sophomore Nicole Clauter was named an IWLCA First-Team All-American as announced on Friday and she showed why on Saturday with five draw controls and a key caused turnover in overtime …Spartan goalie Charlotte Wright has made 22 saves in her two NCAA Tournament games including eight in the win on Saturday ... York advances to the national quarterfinals for the second time in school history (2015 vs. Middlebury, Loss 10-8) … the Spartans will face the host Bantams as Trinity is ranked 10th in the country as the Bantams are now 15-4 overall … Trinity has won five of their last six and are 8-2 at home this season … Sunday's game will be the first ever between the two programs.
Up Next:
The Spartans will face Trinity (CT) in the national quarterfinals for the right to advance to the NCAA Division III Final Four on Sunday in Hartford, CT. First draw is set for 3:30 pm at Sheppard Field. The winner advances to face the winner of the Gettysburg/Salisbury game in the national semifinals on May 27 in Salem, Virginia.
Regan Cook photo courtesy of David Sinclair Photography
