York College of Pennsylvania

NEWPORT NEWS, VA – The #9 York College field hockey team saw their stellar season come to an end in double overtime as #11 Lynchburg edged the Spartans 1-0 in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The winning goal came 1:45 into the second overtime off the Hornets' ninth corner of the day.
The Hornets advance to face the Kean University Cougars as they stunned host Christopher Newport 1-0 in overtime in the day's first game. The winner of that game heads back down to CNU next week for the Final Four.
The Spartans end the season with a mark of 16-5 while the Hornets improve to 21-2.
 
How It Happened
• The Hornets held a little better of the play early as they out shot York 4-0 in the first quarter. However, all four shots were off target as the game was scoreless after the first 15 minutes of action.
• The Spartans got their first shot of the game 1:35 into the second quarter as Olivia Miller forced Kayla Brady to make a stop on her shot. York finished the quarter getting out shot 3-1 as Spartan goalie Belle Fields recorded a pair of saves to keep the game scoreless.
• The third quarter was much of the same as Lynchburg had the better of the stats but didn't manage to break into the scoring column as Fields notched a single save in the quarter. Fields had another stop in the fourth as the teams headed to extra time.
• York had the offensive edge in the first overtime. Katie Martino forced Brady to make a stop 5:03 into the period. Riley Buschert made Brady record another save in the 68^th minute of the game. The Hornets fired a shot wide with 1:33 left in the overtime period.
• Lynchburg got a shot off just 1:30 into the second overtime as Fields had to make another save. Ten seconds later the Hornets earned a penalty corner. Khanyisile Mzizi took the insert pass from Allie Freeman and drove home a shot from the top of the circle for the game-winner.
• The Hornets held an 18-5 advantage in shots but the shots on goal total told a different story as Lynchburg held a much slimmer 6-3 margin in that category. Lynchburg had a 9-1 advantage in penalty corners.
 
Spartan Notes
The Spartans are now 6-10 all-time against Lynchburg as the Hornets won both games between the two teams this year … in all five of their losses this year, the Spartans have been shutout … MAC Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Year Belle Fields concluded her historic season as she went 16-5 with a 0.56 goals against average and a save percentage of .803 with 11 shutouts … Fields' 0.56 goals against average breaks the record of 0.73 that she set last year … her 16 wins set a new single-season record for goalie wins … her 11 clean sheets broke the old record by four shutouts … the Spartans finished the season outscoring their opponents 46-12 … the 12 goals allowed is a new school record breaking the record of 14 from last year.
 
She Said It
"There are never the right words for when your season ends, especially like that," said Spartan head coach Katie Fost. "However, win or lose we always let our community know how grateful we are for them. Along with our community who supports us so strongly, our team is so grateful for our seniors and our fifth-year players. They have continually pour themselves into this program and have been exceptional examples of what it means to be a Spartan. They have created a legacy that our underclassmen feel pride in and, we know, will work relentlessly to continue to uphold. The greatest gift that this year has brought us was their leadership and dedication and for that I am eternally proud of their efforts and commend them on being one of the best classes this program has ever seen. We lost a game, but this program continues to win due to people we surround ourselves with. Thank you Spartan Nation!"
 
Up Next
Fost and the Spartans must now say good bye to three fifth-year seniors and five traditional seniors. Grad Hannah Huffman and fifth year seniors Connie Harburda and Reese Hardman have concluded their Spartan campaigns. That group combined to go 56-26 during their four years on the field. Katie Martino, Anna Simoes, Sara Pique, Brooke Cordisco, and Maycee Collison wrap up their careers with a three-year record 46-16 including a mark of 20-3 in MAC Commonwealth play. The Spartans have earned their first NCAA Tournament berths in the last two years.
York returns to the field of play in early September of 2024.