YORK, PA – The #22 York College field hockey squad escaped their Saturday afternoon MAC Commonwealth match with Alvernia with a 2-1 win in overtime on a brilliantly sunny afternoon in York.
The Spartans scored 2:48 into the first overtime to win the game, their fourth victory in a row.
York improves to 9-5 overall and 3-0 in the MAC Commonwealth. The Golden Wolves fall to 6-9 overall and 1-2 in the league.
 
How It Happened
• The Golden Wolves had the better of the play early and had the first best chance at a goal as Ava Michael hit a shot that was six inches wide of an open back post just under five minutes into the game. The Spartans slowly wrestled momentum away from the Golden Wolves and controlled the last five minutes of the period. York out-shot Alvernia 4-1 in the first quarter while they also had 2-0 margin in penalty corners.
• The Spartan offense was far more on point in the second quarter but Alvernia goalie Zoe Caloviras was up to the task with three saves in the scoreless period.
• York hit Alvernia was an onslaught late in the third quarter. The Spartans had a two minute stretch with four corners and three shots. The final shot of the flurry began the scoring for York. Hannah Downs took the fourth penalty corner and pushed a pass to the top of the circle. Junior captain Olivia Miller unleashed a rocket with 2:43 left in the third for the 1-0 lead.
• The Golden Wolves didn't waste much time in the fourth notching the equalizer with a flurry 2:02 into the quarter. Caroline Martin hit the first shot but Spartan keeper Abby Smith made the save. Unfortunately for York, the rebound came right to the stick of Kesly McClintock who poked home the rebound, tying the game at one with most of the fourth quarter remaining.
• York pressured the Golden Wolves the rest of the period but Alvernia did not break. York had four corners and seven shots over the final 12 minutes of the game but they wouldn't be able to break through for the go-ahead goal as the teams headed to overtime.
• York had all the momentum in overtime and that paid off 2:48 into the extra session. Jade Haines had a loose ball that she collected above the circle. She fired a ball toward the cage and that ball got tipped in by Kelbie Linebaugh for her 11^th goal of the year.
 
Spartan Notes
York improves to 13-7 against Alvernia as they have won six straight in the series … the Spartans have outscored their last four opponents 20-2 during their four-game win streak … York is now 2-1 in overtime this year … York levels their home record at 4-4 for the campaign … York has four regular season MAC Commonwealth games remaining on their schedule … Olivia Miller opened the scoring with her second goal of the year and Kelbie Linebaugh recorded her team-leading 11^th tally of the year for the game winner …. Miller scored her other goal this season in the overtime win over Swarthmore as she tied the game in the third quarter … York has out-shot their last four opponents 103-11.
 
Up Next
The Spartans head back out on the road for a MAC Commonwealth test at #25 Stevenson University on Wednesday night. The match is slated for a 6:00 pm start in Owings Mills, Maryland.