YORK, PA – The York College men's soccer team used a big second half to down Misericordia University 3-1 in a MAC crossover contest on Saturday in York.
The Cougars took the lead to the break but the Spartans scored three goals in a 20 minute stretch to earn the home win.
The Spartans remain unblemished at 2-0-2 while the Cougars are now 1-2.
 
How It Happened
• The Spartans had the early momentum as they had a pair of corner kicks and a shot in the opening six minutes of the match. The Cougars slowly got their footing and started to take the play to York. The Cougars had a flurry in the 24^th minute as Anthony Yarabinee served a shot on goal that Jake Bono was forced to save. That resulted in a Cougar corner kick. That corner kick got banged around the box and was collected by Misericordia's Max Jamieson. Jamieson slipped a pass to Drew Weaver who banged a shot off the underside of the cross bar, just out of the reach of a sprawled out Bono for the 1-0 lead. The goal was Weaver's second of the year.
• The Cougars held a 5-4 edge in first half shots including a 3-1 margin in shots on goal. They also held a slight 3-2 advantage in corner kicks for the opening 45 minutes.
• The second half proved to be a much different story. The Spartans made a number of adjustments at the break and came out a rejuvenated side. The Green and White knotted the equalizer in the 58^th minute as fifth year senior Jack Mitzelfelt collected a loose ball turnover and unleashed an off-balanced rocket into the back of the net for his first goal of year.
• Mitzelfelt's goal gave the Spartans a jolt of energy. The Spartans had a great chance just three minutes later as Mitzelfelt drove a ball to the end line and hit a great cross to Tyler Howlett. Howlett crushed a shot but the Cougars' Santino Jannotte made a fantastic save to preserve the tie, at least for another 15 minutes.
• Freshman Aiden Hall made a play in the 76^th minute as he took a long pass into the offensive third. He dribbled across the field about five yards beyond the box before squaring up and unleashing a strong shot that found the back of the net for his first collegiate goal.
• Hall waited exactly 65 seconds to get his second Spartan goal as he picked up a loose ball just outside of the box and converted the turnover into a goal for the 3-1 Spartan lead with just over 14 minutes left in regulation.
• The Spartan defense did the rest as York did not allow the Cougars to get anything going offensively in the second half. York out shot the Cougars 10-1 in the second stanza including 6-0 in shots on goal.
• York finished the game with a 14-6 advantage in shots and 7-3 in shots on goal. Misericordia had the 5-3 margin in corner kicks in the game.
 
Spartan Notes
York is now 4-2 all-time against the Cougars … the Spartan win snaps a two-game losing streak to Misericordia … the game is the first since 2016 when the Cougars earned a 2-1 win in Dallas on September 17 … the Spartans' 14 shots in the game were a season-high while the three goals ties the high water mark set in last Sunday's win over Eastern Mennonite … York has out shot their opponents in their last three games … York held Misericordia to six shots, tied for the lowest they have allowed this year (vs. Eastern Mennonite) … the Spartans have surrendered just 14 shots on goal in their four matches for the year … fifth year senior Jack Mitzelfelt recorded his first goal of the year and 16^th of his career … freshman Aiden Hall is now tied for the team lead in goals with senior Noah Roche as they both have two goals in four games … York has had six different goal scorers in their four games … York has put 25 of their 50 total shots on goal … sophomore goalie Jake Bono owns a 0.77 goals against average while his save percentage is now .786%.
 
Up Next
The Spartans will face a familiar foe on Tuesday night as they travel to Selinsgrove, PA to face the Susquehanna University River Hawks. Game time is set for 7:00 pm.