YORK, PA - The York College women's soccer squad fell in their season opener to the Franklin and Marshall Diplomats by a narrow score of 2-1 on Friday night in York.
The blue and white scored the third and final goal of the game in the tenth minute in a game that started out offensive and fast paced, but quickly turned defensive and methodical. The Spartans went toe to toe with the Diplomats the whole ninety minutes, but were never able to knot up the game despite major offensive improvements as the game went on.
The Diplomats improve to 1-0 while the Spartans fall to 0-1.
 
How it happened
• Mikaela Timmerman opened the scoring for F&M's season with a deflected shot off of a free kick set that also ricocheted off York defenders to find the back of the net in the fifth minute of the game.  
• On the ensuing kick-off, the Spartans quickly advanced the ball onto the Franklin and Marshall side of the pitch and drew a corner kick. Sophomore Keziah Boyce took the corner and put a beautiful pass to the head of sophomore Sara Frensley. Frensely flicked the ball to Alyssa Russell who finished off the chance with a header in the sixth minute of the game, knotting the score at one.
• The Diplomats came right back using their efficient passing and urgent fast paced offense, putting multiple shots on goal which eventually led to a picture perfect strike outside the box from Lillian Williams. The shot found just enough space below the cross bar to put F&M 2-1 less than 11 minutes into the game.
• While York fell behind the time of possession battle early, their stingy defense kept them in the game, anchored by keeper Teresa Gonzalez's career high eleven saves.
• The Spartans came out in the second half aggressively and quickly set up two corner kicks as York's halftime adjustments seemed to be effective.
• The next portion of the game saw both teams play stifling defense, with real chances on offense coming far and few between.
• The Diplomats parked the bus in the waning minutes of the game which thwarted any chance of a York comeback as they salted away the one goal victory.
 
Spartan Notes
The Spartans dropped their seventh straight decision to the Diplomats with all seven of those matches being one goal decisions … York has lost by a 2-1 score in three of the last four matches … the Spartans last win in the series came on October 6, 2009 as York recorded a 3-1 win at home … the Spartans saw two freshman earn a start (Meg Kalthof and Marissa Brdaric) while eight players made their York College debuts … junior goalie Teresa Gonzalez recorded a career-high 11 saves in the match in her first collegiate start.
 
Up Next
The Spartans return home on Sunday afternoon as they host Ithaca College in a non-conference contest. The first game of the Spartan doubleheader with the men kicks off at noon at Graham Field.