Big Championship Weekend for Three York College Spartan Teams; NCAA Tournament Bids on the Line
It’s an exciting time for York College of Pennsylvania athletes! Three teams have championships on the line as the men’s and women’s soccer teams along with the field hockey squad all head to Messiah University to take on the Falcons in their respective Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth championship matches.
The games will be staggered in Grantham with the women’s soccer championship game kicking off at 12:00 p.m. followed by the field hockey match at 1:00 p.m. The men’s soccer title game will wrap up the day at 3:00 p.m. All three games will be available via live video courtesy of the Messiah Athletic Communications office.
Women’s Soccer – 12:00 p.m. at Shoemaker Field
The second-seeded Spartans advanced to the championship game thanks to a 4-1 win over third-seeded Eastern in Wednesday’s semifinals. The top-seeded Falcons cruised to the championship match as they disposed of Stevenson University 9-0 in their semifinal match.
The Falcons (15-1-3) are currently ranked fifth in the country and downed the Spartans 3-0 on October 19 at home. The winner of the match earns the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. This is the fourth straight year York (12-3-5) has traveled to Messiah for the women’s soccer championship contest.
Field Hockey – 1:00 p.m. at Anderson Field
The Spartans earned their way to the championship game against the Falcons with a 3-1 win over third-seeded Stevenson on Wednesday afternoon. The Falcons disposed of Alvernia 7-1 in their semifinal on Wednesday afternoon.
The second-seeded Spartans are ranked tenth in the latest NFHCA Poll while the Falcons are 12th. The Falcons (14-4) edged York (15-5) 3-2 in overtime in York on October 19. The winner of the championship game earns the league’s automatic bid while the runner-up has an outstanding chance of making the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team. This is the third straight year the Spartans are facing off against the Falcons for the conference title.
Men’s Soccer – 3:00 p.m. at Shoemaker Field
York earned their way to the championship match as they put together a solid performance in the MAC Semifinals, outlasting Widener 2-1 at Graham Field on Tuesday. The second-seeded Spartans got the game-winning goal midway through the second half to punch their ticket to their first MAC Commonwealth title game. The top-seeded Falcons cruised past fourth-seeded Alvernia 4-0 in their Tuesday night semifinals.
Messiah (13-5-1) handed the Spartans (14-1-5) their lone loss of the year on October 19 in Grantham. The winner of the championship advances to the NCAA Tournament while the runner-up must wait to see if they earn a potential at-large berth to the tournament.
Tickets are available on site at a cost of $8.00 for adults, $6.00 for seniors 65 and up, and $6.00 for youth ages 7-17. MAC Students are free with a valid institutional ID while kids six and under are free with the admission of an adult.
Go Spartans!
