YORK, PA – The #11 York College women's lacrosse team opened the 2022 NCAA Division III Tournament with a strong defensive effort as they downed St. John Fisher 9-6 in a first round game on Saturday in York.
The Spartans are now 4-0 all-time against St. John Fisher in the NCAA Tournament with the win. York has matched up against the Cardinals more than any other NCAA Tournament opponent. York is now 11-8 all-time in the NCAA tournament as they are making their ninth tournament appearance.
 
2022 NCAA Division III Tournament – First Round
Records: #12 York 15-5, St. John Fisher 10-9
Score: #12 York 9, St. John Fisher 6
 
How It Happened
• The first quarter featured strong defensive play as neither offense seemed to be able to gain any significant momentum. York's Kiersten Blanchard broke the scoreless tie at the 4:22 mark as she beat the Cardinals in transition for the first goal of the game. Riley Roeder quickly made it 2-0 just 33 seconds later as she converted a free position shot for her 23^rd goal of the year. Bianca Giancona got the Cardinals on the board 40 seconds later as she snuck a shot inside the near post for the goal. The first quarter featured a combined eight shots but also had a combined total of 11 turnovers.
• The teams seemed to steady themselves in the second quarter as the offensive pace picked up. Giancona opened the second period scoring with her second straight goal, knotting the score at two. York answered 12 seconds later as Chloe MacDonald scooped up the ensuing draw, raced toward the Cardinal goal and finished the chance to give York a 3-2 lead. The Cardinals tied the game a minute and a half later as Cara Landry converted a free position shot for her 17^th goal of the year as the teams were tied at three.
• York ended the first half with goals from MacDonald and Blanchard to take a 5-3 lead at the break. MacDonald's goal came with 7:36 left on the clock on a man up free position goal. Blanchard's goal was also a free position shot that came at the 3:35 mark. Spartan goalie Bella Garabo came up big in the second quarter with four saves as York took the two goal lead to the intermission.
• The Spartans had a great start in the third quarter as the Green and White ripped off three straight goals to take an 8-3 lead. MacDonald had a pretty goal off a feed from Blanchard on a fast break just 1:30 into the quarter. Teresa Matthias scored her 35^th goal of the year at the 7:26 mark followed by a Tiffany Lee tally as the lead grew to five.
• The Cardinals closed the gap in the final minute of the third quarter as Sydney Carpenter found the back of the cage with 58 ticks left in the quarter. Courtney O'Dea then beat the quarter horn with her 27^th goal of the year, slicing York's lead to 8-5 heading to the fourth.
• St. John Fisher scored a third straight goal just under three minutes into the fourth quarter but the Spartan defense locked up the Cardinals from there. The Spartans held the Cardinals to just three fourth period shots while they forced six turnovers. Gianna Huet closed out the scoring at the 8:30 mark with an unassisted goal, providing the final 9-6 Spartan margin of victory.
 
Spartan Leaders
Chloe MacDonald: 3 goals, 1 ground ball, 4 draw controls, 2 caused turnovers, 1-for-2 FPS
Kiersten Blanchard: 2 goals, 1 assist, 1 ground ball, 3 draw controls, 1-for-4 FPS
Emmy Bryden: 4 draw controls, 3 ground balls, 2 caused turnovers
Sarah Christensen: 4 ground balls, 1 caused turnover
 
Spartan Goalies
Bella Garabo: 60:00 minutes, 6 goals against, 8 saves, Win (11-3)
 
Spartan Notes
York improves to 6-0 all-time against St. John Fisher with four of those games coming in NCAA Tournament play … the Spartans margin of victory against the Cardinals in their first four meetings were all one goal while the last two games have both been decided by three goals in each game … York improves to 7-0 all-time in NCAA tournament games at Kinsley Field … York has now won seven straight overall at Kinsley Field … York has won six straight overall and have won 11 of their last 12 with the lone loss being a one-goal setback on the road at #3 Salisbury on April 16 … York's nine goals in the win marks their lowest offensive production in a game since they were held to seven goals in the March 26 loss to nationally ranked Washington and Lee … Saturday's game marked the first time this year that York has failed to score double digits in goals and still managed to win the game … York's other single digit goal efforts for the year have all resulted in losses … York is allowing just 6.3 goals per game in their six games … York is 9-for-18 in free position shots in their last three games … York has converted 45% (60-of-33) of their free position chances for the year … York has forced an average of 17.3 turnovers per game in their last six contests … York has outscored their opponents 84-44 in the first quarter this year … junior Kiersten Blanchard added another free position goal as her single season record is now 18 … Blanchard and Chloe MacDonald continued to battle for the top spot in draw controls as Blanchard has 89 while MacDonald has 90 … York has won 329-of-527 draw controls for the year (62.4%) … York now has four 50 point scorers led by Blanchard with 67, MacDonald with 51 followed by Madison Kurland (50) and Logan Ward (50) … junior goalie Bella Garabo has notched 40 saves over the last six games.
 
Up Next
The Spartans have a short turn around as they will face #12 Wesleyan in an NCAA Tournament Second Round match at Kinsley Field. First draw is set for 1:00 pm in York.