Team Effort Lifts #8 Spartans to First Win - York College of Pennsylvania (2024)

HAVERFORD, PA – The eighth-ranked York College women's lacrosse team survived a spirited upset bid from Haverford College as they earned their first win of the year, 9-7, at soggy Swan field in Haverford on Wednesday afternoon.
The contest was back and forth all game as neither team held more than a two-goal lead and that was not until the end of the game.
The Spartans improve to 1-2 while the Fords fall to 2-2.

How It Happened
• The first quarter was back and forth as the team took turns scoring. Ellie Hughes opened the scoring for the Fords at the 10:02 mark of the quarter. York wasted little time in responding as Gianna Huet notched her fifth goal of the year to knot the score at one. Brooke Epstein converted a free position shot for the 2-1 Haverford lead. Spartan sophom*ore Sydney Mentzer made it 2-2 with a goal off a Zoe Kluegel pass with 4:30 left. The Fords tallied the final goal of the quarter as Tiffany Mikulis notched an unassisted tally with 2:19 left in the quarter.
• York carried the play in the early second quarter as they tied the game at three on a Natalie Neiman goal from Krista Yarusso just 1:37 into the quarter. Mentzer then gave York their first lead of the game when she registered an unassisted tally with 10:48 left. The offenses would be quiet until Kylie McNamara tied the game at four with 5:43 left in the half. The teams headed to the half tied at four.
• The Spartans drew first blood in the third as Jen Campbell scored off a Neiman pass to make it 5-4 York early in the third. The Fords answered just over three minutes later as Reilly Curran tied the game at five with a goal. Bella Gattuso followed with a goal just over two minutes later to give Haverford their fourth lead of the game.
• With the rain getting heavier as the game progressed, York forged back and tied the game at six as Kluegel found the back of the net. She was assisted by Madison Kurland with 1:53 left in the third quarter. It was the sixth tie of the game.
• The Fords opened the fourth quarter scoring as they won the draw and scored 44 seconds later with Epstein scoring her second goal of the game for the 7-6 lead. The Spartans again answered as Mentzer found the back of the net for the third time in the game off a pass from Huet. The Spartans regained the lead with 10:19 left as Kluegel scored to give York an 8-7 lead. • With 1:52 left in regulation, Kurland gave the Spartans a huge insurance goal to go up 9-7, the largest lead of the game for either team. York's Sarah Christensen won the ensuing draw for York. The Spartans were able to run the game clock to under ten seconds before they took a shot, effectively ending the game.

By the Numbers
The Spartans out-shot the Fords 25-22 including 21-14 in shots on goal … both teams scooped up 16 ground balls … York was 18-for-18 on the clear while Haverford was 17-for-20 … York won the battle in the circle as they out-drew Haverford 11-9 … both teams had 14 turnovers while York had eight caused turnovers while Haverford recorded six … the game was clean as there was just two cards and a combined 12 fouls … Haverford was 1-for-1 in free position chances while York did not have an attempt in the game.

Spartan Notes
York improves to 6-0 all-time against the Fords … Haverford is receiving votes in the most recent IWLCA Coaches Poll … the Spartans had a season-high six assists in the win after having just four in their first two games … York put a season-high 21 shots on goal … the Spartans scooped up a season-high 16 ground balls … York evened their draw total for the year as they are exactly at 50% in the draw circle this year … there were seven ties and five lead changes in the game … three Spartans had three points in the win as Sydney Mentzer had three goals, Zoe Kluegel had two goals and an assist while Gianna Huet notched a goal and two assists … Mentzer led the Spartans with five draw controls while she also had three ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers … Sarah Christensen had three draw controls, three caused turnovers and two ground balls in a stellar defensive performance on Wednesday … Madison Kurland and Jen Campbell each had a goal and an assist for the Spartans … grad goalie Bella Garabo had seven saves in picking up her first win of the season … Garabo now has 29 wins for her Spartan career.

Up Next
The Spartans stay on the road for their third straight contest away from home as they head to Stevens to face the Ducks in a battle of nationally ranked squads. The Ducks are 14^th in the country. First draw is set for 1:00 pm in Hoboken, New Jersey.