YORK, PA – For the first time in 664 days, the Spartan women's soccer team took the field for a meaningful game. Unfortunately for York, Franklin and Marshall got a second half penalty kick goal to slide by the Spartans 1-0 in the season opener for both teams on Thursday at Graham Field.
The Spartans played their first game under second-year head coach Kelly Wakeman. Wakeman was hired during the pandemic and didn't get to coach her team in a game until tonight.
 
Final Score: York 0, F&M 1
Team Records: York 0-1, F&M 1-0
 
How It Happened
• The Diplomats carried the play early as they outshot the Spartans 3-0 early with a trio of corner kicks. The Spartans finally got a shot off in the 19^th minute but the Diplomats squeezed off four more shots with four corner kicks over the next six minutes of play.
• York had an offensive flurry in the 29^th minute as Caitlyn Findlay had back to back shots followed by an Elizabeth Gleeson shot in a 21 second segment. Findlay's first shot was saved, her second shot was blocked and Glesson's shot trickled just outside the left post. Findlay put another shot on frame in the 40^th minute but Diplomat goalie Sara Ghorashi registered the save as the teams headed to the break in a scoreless tie.
• F&M outshot York 8-5 in the first half and also had a 7-2 margin in corner kicks.
• The Diplomats came out of the break and pressured the Spartan defense. Meg O'Callahan hit a rocket that was ticketed for the back of the net by Spartan goalie Cat McCarty used her 6-0 frame to get a hand on it and punch it over the cross bar. O'Callahan had two more quality shots over the next six minutes but McCarty was up to the task with a pair of saves.
• F&M had a shot bang off the cross bar in the 67^th minute as Alison Francis hit a header that clanked off the bar. A foul was called in the box on the rebound and the Diplomats were awarded a penalty kick. O'Callahan stepped up and banged a shot inside the left post for the game's lone goal.
• The Spartans had one chance over the final 20 minute of the game but the Megan Stoltzfus shot was wide and York wouldn't be able to get the equalizer.
• F&M outshot York 18-7 in the game including 8-3 in shots on goal. The Diplomats held a big 13-2 margin in corner kicks.
 
Notes
York falls to 2-9 all time in the series … the Diplomats have won four straight in the series as all four games have been decided by one goal … senior goalie Cat McCarty kept the Spartans in the game as she made seven saves … the seven saves were two short of tying her career high of nine, a number she reached twice in 2019 for York … senior Caitlyn Findlay led York with three shots with two of her shots coming on cage … York put three of their seven shots on frame in the game … York played 18 players in the game, showing promising depth for the upcoming campaign … York is now 4-9 in one goal games dating back to the start of 2019.
 
Up Next
The Spartans head to Middletown, PA to face former CAC foe PSU Harrisburg in a non-conference contest. Game time is set for 3:00 pm.