YORK, PA – The York College men's soccer team battled to a 1-1 tie against Widener University in a hard-fought MAC Commonwealth contest on a beautiful Wednesday night in York.
After a scoreless first half, the Spartans scored in the 77^th minute only to have the Pride answer with a goal of their own just over five minutes later.
The Spartans are now 10-1-5 overall and 2-1-1 in the Commonwealth. The Pride are now 7-5-4 overall and 2-1-1 in the league.
 
How It Happened
• The first half was a back and forth 45 minutes of soccer. The Pride had their best chance of the half in the 33^rd minute as Sean Fatiga got behind the Spartan defense and had a one-on-one with Spartan goalie Jake Bono. Fortunately for York, Bono made the stop on Fatiga's shot, keeping the game scoreless.
• York started to carry the play late in the half as they fired off five shots in the final nine minutes of the half. Aiden Hall started the run with a shot that was stopped by Pride goalie Ryan Van Pelt. Dermot Williamson had his header in the 40^th minute stopped by Van Pelt. York's best chance of the first half came in the 44^th minute as Williamson put a header off the cross bar on a well struck ball.
• York held a slight 7-6 edge in total shots and a 3-2 margin in shots on goal. Widener held a 3-1 advantage in corner kicks.
• The second half continued much like the first as the teams took turns dancing with momentum. The Spartans drew a corner kick just 26 seconds into the second half. Williamson put another great shot on goal but Monsif Atify cleared the ball off the line to keep York off the board. York's Owen Henderlite put another shot off the cross bar as his 68^th minute shot narrowly missed tucking into the goal.
• The Spartans finally broke through in the 77^th minute as Noah Roche played a pass to an on-rushing Colin Findlay. Findlay smoked a one-timer from the top of the box for his first collegiate goal. The Pride wasted little time in responding as they knotted the game in 82^nd minute. Widener played a long outlet to the top of the box where Fatiga settled the ball, made a move to beat a defender before unleashing a shot that tied the game. The goal was Fatiga's ninth of the year and couldn't have come at a bigger time for his squad.
• The Pride had one last ditch effort as Atify blasted a shot that just went over the cross bar as the final horn was sounding.
• York finished the game with a very slight 16-15 advantage in total shots and a 6-5 edge in shots on goal. Widener had a 6-5 margin in corner kicks for the game.
 
Spartan Notes
The Spartans are now 1-3-2 all-time against Widener as the tie snaps a three-game losing streak to the Pride … Sean Fatiga continues to haunt the Spartans as the grad forward has led the Pride to a 3-0-1 record against the Spartans as MAC Commonwealth foes … with his goal in tonight's game, Fatiga has six goals against York in four games … Fatiga had a hat trick in 2023, two goals in 2022, and one more in 2021 … York's 16 shots in the game were their most since the September 21 tie at Juniata … York has been held to just two goals in their last three games … York is now 6-0-3 at Graham Field including 1-0-1 in conference play … freshman Colin Findlay notched his first goal of the year in his 16^th collegiate game … Findlay entered the night with two assists on the year … senior Noah Roche picked up his 11^th point of the year with his first assist … York has now had 13 players score a goal this year.
 
Up Next
The Spartans head back out on the road for their final two regular season road games starting with a trip to Albright on Saturday. Kick off in Reading is set for 4:00 pm. York then heads to Stevenson on Tuesday, October 29 before concluding the regular season at home on November 2 against Hood.