YORK, PA- The York College field hockey squad saw their campaign come to a close on Wedensday as Messiah downed York 2-1 in double time overtime in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament semifinal game in York.
Ellie Lefever scored the game winner for the Falcons with 5:31 left in the second overtime.
Messiah improves to 11-7 overall and head to Owings Mills to take on the top seeded Stevenson University Mustangs in the league title game on Saturday. York concludes their year with a mark of 12-7.
 
Howe It Happened
• The first half was very balanced with neither team able to gain any offensive traction until the Spartans drew back-to-back penalty corners with a 2:09 left In the first quarter. York took advantage of the second corner for a goal.  Hannah Downs inserted the ball to Katelyn Landis who ripped a shot from the top of the circle for the 1-0 lead.
• The Falcons controlled the second quarter as they out-shot the Spartans 5-1 including 3-0 in shots on goal. Both teams had one corner in the period. The third quarter was significantly quieter offensively as the Falcons had the period's lone two shots.
• Messiah tied the game early in the fourth quarter, a quarter they dominated. Messiah's Aubrey Clark tied the game just 1:41 into the final quarter. It didn't look like the Spartans were going to make it to overtime as the Falcons out-shot the Spartans 10-0 in the fourth including 5-0 in shots on goal.
• The first overtime was played between the circles as neither team got anything going offensively. Clark got off the first shot of the two overtimes. The Falcons drew a penalty corner with 5:31 in the second overtime. Naomi Lyter's initial shot was blocked but Ellie Lefever knocked home the rebound for the game winning goal.
• The Falcons held a 22-3 bulge in shots on goal including 13-1 advantage in shots on goal. Messiah also held 7-4 margin in penalty corners.
 
Spartan Notes
York is now 6-19-3 all-time against the Falcons as the loss ended a brief two-game Spartan win streak … the Spartans failed to advance to the Commonwealth championship match for the first time since 2021 when they lost 1-0 in overtime to Widener …. York is now 4-3 all-time in the MAC Commonwealth tournament … junior goalie Abby Smith recorded a career-high 11 saves in the setback. … Kelbie Linebaugh led the Spartans in scoring with 23 points on 11 goals and one assists while Claire Burrows added 22 points on nine goals and four assists with four game-winning goals.
 
Up Next
The Spartans are now off until next fall when head coach Katie Fost is slated to return her entire starting lineup.