YORK, PA – The York College women's soccer team kicked off their MAC Commonwealth schedule with a solid 3-1 win over Alvernia in the league opener for both squads.
Prior to the match, the Spartans honored their four seniors for their contribution to the York women's soccer program.
Alvernia jumped on the Spartans with an early goal but York responded with three unanswered to earn the league win.
The Spartans are now 7-2-3 overall and 1-0 in the Commonwealth. Alvernia is now 4-7-1 overall and 0-1 in the Commonwealth.
 
How It Happened
• After celebrating their 2024 seniors, York came out of the gates quickly. The Spartans fired off four shots and had one corner in the opening seven minutes of the game. The Golden Wolves got their first opportunity in the 13^th minute as Haley Dougherty took the corner. Her kick from the left corner sailed towards the goal. Spartan netminder Joss Metz came out to catch the ball but mis-timed her approach as the ball carried over her head and into the goal for the game's opening salvo.
• The Spartans continued to spend a majority of the play in the Alvernia defensive zone. York's Meg Kalthof put two shots on goal less than three minutes after Dougherty's goal. After Abby Brown hit a shot wide, Kalthof outraced a defender to the ball, drove it down the sideline before cutting into the right side of the box. Kalthof unleashed a shot that beat goalie Brynn Bock to tie the game at one in the 21^st minute of play.
• York continued to pressure the Golden Wolves defense but Bock played well as she recorded five saves over the remaining 20 minutes of the half to keep the game tied at one heading to the half.
• The first few minutes of the second half mirrored the first half as York continued to press into the Alvernia defensive half. In the 60^th minute, Brown drove into the box and was fouled as the Spartans earned a penalty kick. Senior Morgan Joyce converted the penalty kick to give the Green and White the 2-1 lead with just under 30 minutes left in the match.
• The Spartan attack pace slowed a bit over the course of the half before the Green and White cranked up the pressure late. The Spartans made it 3-1 in the 83^rd minute as Brown drove the ball towards the right end line. She then hit a perfect serve into the box where Kalthof finished off the chance for her second goal of the day.
• York finished the match with a 26-4 edge in total shots including a 17-2 bulge in shots on goal. The Spartans also had a 9-2 margin in corner kicks. Bock was brilliant in goal for Alvernia as she recorded 14 saves, just two short of her career high set on September 1, 2023 against Montclair State.
 
Spartan Notes
The Spartans improve to 8-1-1 all-time against the Golden Wolves as York has won six straight in the series … York tied their season-high with three goals as they have matched that total in back-to-back games … the Spartans tied their season-high with 26 shots including a season-high 17 on goal … York put a season-high 65.4% of their shots on target in the win … York also set a season-high with nine corners in the match the Spartan defense limited Alvernia to just four shots, tying York's best defensive effort on the year (4 at PSU Berks) … the Spartans converted their first penalty kick of the year as senior Morgan Joyce cashed in on her third career chance from the dot … sophomore Meg Kalthof tied a career-high with two goals in the win, a feat she has accomplished three other times during her Spartan career … Kalthof took a career-high eight shots as all eight were on goal … Joyce tallied her second goal of the year and the seventh of her illustrious Spartan career … Joyce is now 3-for-3 in career penalty kicks … prior to the match, York honored seniors Alyssa Russell, Joyce, Brooke Flugman, and Teresa Gonzalez during senior day ceremonies.
 
Up Next
The Spartans are now off until Friday afternoon when they head to St. David's, PA to face off against Eastern University in a MAC Commonwealth contest. Game time is set for 4:00 pm.