Team Effort Leads to Triumph in CAC Opener
YORK, Pa. – Stark contrast. Two words that best describe
York College field hockey's pair of contests this week. After
dropping a disappointing 3-1 decision to nationally-ranked
Gettysburg, the Spartans turned it around Thursday afternoon
blanking visiting Stevenson 3-0 in both squads' first Capital
Athletic Conference match of the season. With the home triumph, the
Green and White improve to 2-2 including a 1-0 mark in CAC play
while the Mustangs suffer their first loss of the 2010 campaign and
fall to 3-1 (0-1 CAC).
The Spartans, who played a crisp and unified contest against the
Mustangs, got on the board early as senior forward Allison Roush
tallied her fourth goal of the season in the 12th minute. Following
a York corner, Colleen O'Rourke collected the ball on the
right side of the circle. The junior defender then slipped a pass
in front of the cage to Roush who promptly knocked home what would
prove to be the game-winner.
Nearly seven minutes later, a pair of youngsters gave the Spartans
an insurance tally. After another Spartan corner, freshman Kailey Brewer found sophomore Sandee Reich along the left side endline.
Reich deftly snuck her shot just past the left post as it found the
right side of the cage for York's second goal and her
team-leading fourth of the season.
In the second stanza, Brewer penciled her name into the
goals-scored column as she combined with Casey Lawrence in the 42nd
minute. As was the trend, another York corner started the
goal-scoring process but this time in a more direct fashion.
Lawrence, who inserts regularly for the Green and White, found
Brewer along the top of the circle. The freshman collected before
cracking a ripper into the back of the cage for her second
collegiate score.
The Spartans would have little trouble the rest of the way, as the
Spartans allowed only two Stevenson shots thereafter, and secured
the well-played 3-0 shutout victory.
For the contest, the Green and White held a huge 23-5 margin in
shots, including a substantial 15-1 lead in the first half. York
also totaled a season-high 18 penalty corners, three of which
eventually led to goals.
Spartan goalkeeper Maggie Schlauch picks up the second shutout of
her senior campaign as she turned away three Stevenson attempts.
Kara Zimmerman, who was an All-CAC second-team goalkeeper in 2009,
played well between the posts as she registered eight saves for the
Mustangs.
York now heads to St. Mary's City, Md. on Saturday, September
11, where they will square off with host St. Mary's. The
Capital Athletic Conference action is slated for a 12:00 pm
start.
Photo: The Spartans celebrate one of their three goals against Stevenson Thursday afternoon - courtesy of Zach Clabaugh - www.sharpedgefoto.com