Women's Lacrosse Drops Another Close Contest - York College of Pennsylvania (2024)

HOBOKEN, N.J. – The eighth ranked York College women's lacrosse team had another tough opponent on Saturday as the #14 Stevens Ducks outlasted the Spartans 9-7 in non-conference action on Saturday in Hoboken, New Jersey.
The Spartans fall to 1-3 but all three losses have come to teams ranked inside the top 15 in the country. York is now 1-2 on the road for the year.
Stevens improves to 5-0 as they picked up their biggest win of the year.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Stevens jumped on the Spartans early as the Ducks scored a goal on each of their first two possessions. Emily Leiby found the back of the net just 45 seconds into the game. Leiby struck again just under three minutes later to put Stevens up 2-0. The early scores could have been worse for York but grad goalie Bella Garabo made a pair of saves on two Stevens free position shots. The Spartans got on the board late in the quarter as Madison Kurland fed Zoe Kluegel cutting down the middle and Kluegel finished the chance for the goal. Kluegel got another shot inside the final minute of the quarter but the shot hit the left pipe and caromed away.
• The Spartans got off to a great start in the seconds quarter. In their second possession of the quarter, Natalie Neiman found Kurland for her fifth goal of the year at the 11:27 mark. The Spartans won the ensuing draw and York took a short-lived 3-2 lead as Gianna Huet found a cutting Kate Feldman who finished the chance for her first collegiate goal.
• The Ducks wasted little time in responding as they won the draw and got an unassisted goal from Maddie Hogan, knotting the game at three a mere 32 seconds after Feldman's goal. The Ducks recaptured the lead just under a minute later as Rebecca Guerra scored off a pass from Zoe Cook for her sixth goal of the campaign. Stevens added to the lead as they turned down a free position chance and sent the ball around the circle and Leiby notched her third goal on a shot from the right wing for the 5-3 lead. The Stevens run continued with 3:01 left in the half as Hogan converted the Ducks' first free position chance as she bounced a shot under the stick of Garabo, pushing the lead to 6-3.
• Stevens had a 13-8 edge in first half shots including a 12-6 margin in shots on goal. Garabo played well with six saves to keep the Spartans close at the half.
• The third quarter was lacking offensively as both defenses were locked in. The Spartans got the only goal of the quarter as Kurland fired an absolute rocket off a free position shot with 5:52 left in the quarter. York held the Ducks to just one shot in the quarter and Garabo made a save on that attempt.
• The Spartans had a great chance on a break away with 12:50 left in the game but Kluegel was stymied by Ducks goalie Felicia Heilferty to make the big save. The Ducks then got a huge break with 12:47 left as York had played great defense only to get called for a card with two seconds left on the shot clock. Stevens converted the man-up opportunity with a Sellitto goal to push the Duck lead to 7-4 with 10:35 remaining in regulation.
• The Spartans' Sydney Mentzer converted a free position shot to draw to within two goals at 7-5. The Ducks answered on their ensuing possession to push the lead back to three with 7:48 left in the game. The Spartans won the draw and converted on the possession as Mentzer scored again off a Feldman pass to make it 8-6.
• Stevens got another man-up goal at the 5:08 mark as Emily Smart notched the unassisted tally to push the lead to 9-6. York had some opportunities inside the final three minutes and finally found the back of the net as Kurland converted another free position chance, cutting the Stevens lead to two with 1:15 left. The Ducks won the draw and were able to run out the clock and earn the win to remain unbeaten.

By The Numbers
The Spartans out shot the Ducks 23-22 while Stevens had the 17-15 edge in shots on goal … the Spartans were 15-for-17 on the clear while Stevens was 18-for-20 … Stevens won the battle of the draws 11-8 … York was 3-for-6 in free position attempts while Stevens was 1-for-3 … Stevens had 13 turnovers while York had 12 … Stevens had eight caused turnovers while York had six … Stevens had a 21-14 edge in ground balls.

Spartan Notes
The Spartans are now 4-2 all-time against the Ducks as the loss snaps York's two game win streak … York is now 1-2 in Hoboken … the two Spartan losses against the Ducks have been close as Stevens won the 2021 contest 8-7 and then captured Saturday's win, 9-7 … the Spartans were held to a season-low seven goals while their 23 shots tied a season-low … York converted 50% of their free position chances for the second time this season (4-for-8 vs. Franklin and Marshall) … Stevens cashed in on two man-up goals in the win … York had a season-low eight draw controls … senior Madison Kurland had a season-high four points on three goals and an assist … Kurland converted 2-of-3 free position chances in the game … Sydney Mentzer had another strong game with two goals, three ground balls, two caused turnovers and a draw control … first year Spartan Kate Feldman recorded her first career points with a goal and an assist … Feldman also had three ground balls and a caused turnover … Katie Jeanes won four draws in the circle for the Spartans while Sarah Christensen added two draws for York … Bella Garabo registered eight saves in the contest.

Up Next
The Spartans finally return home on Saturday, March 16 when they welcome Washington College (Md.) to Kinsley Field for a non-conference contest. First draw is set for 1:00 pm.