YORK, PA – The nationally ranked York College men's soccer team made their 2012 home debut a successful one as the Spartans notched a 3-1 win over McDaniel College in the opening round of the 2012 Holiday Inn Conference Center Classic at Graham Field on Saturday afternoon.

The Spartans, who are ranked second in the nation according to the NSCAA, improve to 3-0 for the campaign while the Green Terror fall to 2-2.

The visiting Green Terror got on the board quickly as Shane McCracken ripped a bomb from 35 yards out on a one-timer to give McDaniel the 1-0 lead just 6:31 into the contest. The goal was his team-leading sixth of the season.

The Spartans wasted little time in responding. Junior Jake Hower (Lake Forest, Calif./El Toro) sent a pass across the face of the goal. Fellow junior Daniel Baxter (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall) settled the ball and banged home a shot, tying the score at one in the game's 11^th minute.

The Spartans took a lead they wouldn't surrender just 3:03 later as junior Taylor Brummitt (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis) picked up a loose ball and deposited it in the back of the net for the 2-1 Spartan advantage. The Spartans played a great possession game the remainder of the half as they carried the play. Freshman Matty Martinez (Cheltenham, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) had a great attempt in the 44^th minute as he hit a blistering shot from 30 yards out off a restart that McDaniel goalie Jack Pebole make a fantastic save on to preserve McDaniel's one goal deficit at the half.

The Spartans continued their steady play in the early stages of the second half before a fast moving cold front cruised into York, causing a one hour and eight minute delay.

When the teams came back onto the field, the Spartans picked up where they left off. The Green and White struck for their third goal of the game on a beautiful combination between freshman Greg Bechard (Newark, Del./St. Mark's) and senior Antonio Bua (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg). Bechard colleted a loose ball along the end line, had a good touch and lifted a pass to Bua who patiently settled the ball on his foot despite an on-rushing Pebole and flicked the ball into the net for the goal. Bua's tally was his second of the season and came in the 77^th minute.

The Spartans killed off the remaining 13:40 as they advanced to the tournament championship game on Sunday.

The Spartans finished the match with a 15-5 bulge in total shots and a 7-1 margin in shots on goal.  Pebole finished with four saves in his 90 minutes in goal for the Green Terror. Freshman Leonardo Romero (Philadelphia, Pa./LaSalle College) and senior Jesse Derksen (York, Pa./Susquehannock) split the duties in net for the Spartans. Romero played the first 45 and allowed the lone McDaniel goal. Derksen was not forced to make a save in his 45 minutes of work.

The Green and White will host the winner of the William Paterson/Susquehanna game on Sunday in the tournament championship game at 3:30 pm. McDaniel will play in the consolation game Sunday at 1:15 pm.

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