GRANTHAM, Pa. – For the first time in over two decades the Falcons dropped a regular season conference game in women's soccer. On Wednesday night, the York Spartans bent a corner kick into the side netting in the 28th minute to earn a 1-0 victory over the No. 2 Messiah women's soccer team. Despite a number of quality looks across the final 62 minutes, Messiah was unable to get on the board and the Spartans handed the Falcons their first loss of the season by a 1-0 final.
 
With the setback, York ends a Messiah streak of 150 consecutive regular season conference games without a loss. During the streak, the Falcons went an unprecedented 144-0-6. Wednesday's victory over the Falcons is also York's first-ever win against Messiah. The Falcons had claimed the previous 11 meetings between the two squads.
 
The Falcons held a 22-8 advantage in shots, putting eight on frame while the Spartans sent just four attempts on frame.
 
With the loss, Messiah falls to 10-1-2 on the season and moves to 2-1-0 in the MAC Commonwealth. The Falcons will be back in action on Saturday evening when they host the Eastern Eagles at 5:00 p.m. as they look to begin a new streak.
 
York Connects on a Corner
The opening 10 minutes of Wednesday's match were played in the midfield. Over the next 10 minutes, Messiah earned four corner kicks and attempted four shots, putting one on frame from Brianna Seip in the 18th minute.
 
Even with the pressure from the Falcons, it was the Spartans that got on the board first. In the 28th minute, York earned a corner kick. Sabrina McGuigan look the corner from the left-side of the field. Her delivery bent perfectly into the side netting just over the outstretched arms of Messiah's keeper for the 1-0 lead.
 
The Falcons brought pressure through the remainder of the half, attempting five shots, but York held a 1-0 lead at the break.
 
Scoreless Second-Half
The Falcons had a number of chances in the second half as they continued to push for the equalizer. The most dangerous of their opportunities came in the form of a free kick by Kayla Herr in the 61st minute and a shot from Korinne Kovatch in the 73rd minute.
 
In the 61st minute, Messiah was fouled just outside the box, slightly to the right-side of the midfield. Herr stepped up and hammered the free kick to the upper 90. York's keeper Jacqueline Keogh was up to the challenge just getting a hand on the attempts and pushing it off the crossbar and out of bounds.
 
Just over 10 minutes later, Kovatch found herself at the top of the box with time. She spun and ripped a shot that landed in the hands of Keogh. On the night, Keogh made eight saves to keep the Falcons off of the board.
 
Messiah hand other attempts in the second half with Thea Neimond also having shots saved.
 
The Falcons were unable to find the equalizer, despite 12 shots in the second half and 22 total in the match.
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons will be back in action on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. when they host the Eastern Eagles on Shoemaker Field.