Box Score YORK, Pa. -- In a battle for the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Commonwealth regular season title, sixth-ranked York (Pa.) used a decisive fourth quarter and pulled away from No. 13 Stevenson as part of a 12-8 final on Wednesday night.
Stevenson (11-5, 6-1) stayed right on track with York (15-2, 8-0), despite the Spartans holding the advantage in shots. The loss marked the first regular season setback in MAC Commonwealth play for the Mustangs since joining the league in 2013.
Shane Ford and Griffin Gast posted two goals each for the Mustangs, while Marc Poust made 10 saves and added a goal of his own in the first quarter.
Dylan Wolf and Ben Mayer each posted three goals for York, which outscored the Mustangs 5-2 in the fourth quarter.
Ford opened the scoring at 9:43 before the Spartans responded with the next three markers in the first quarter. Poust closed out the first-quarter scoring with a long shot into an open cage from about 70 yards away, bringing Stevenson to within 3-2.
Both sides found the back of the net once in the second quarter with Brannan responding with a man-down marker at 10:51. The tight-checking game opened up a bit at the onset of the second half with the Mustangs drawing even on three occasions.
Grant Zick had a tying tally sandwiched between two Griffin Gast markers in the third. Ben Mayer pushed the Spartans back in front at 7-6, ripping home a shot with unde rone minute left in the frame. Poust stood tall with a key save on the ensuing faceoff as York looked to build its advantage before the third expired.
Stevenson entered the fourth quarter with a crucial man-up chance as Ryan Coleman cashed in on the right wing from Mitchell Lachman. The Spartans wasted little time seizing back control, rattling off a pair of goals just 17 seconds apart for a 9-7 edge. Dylan Wolf provided the largest lead of the day at the time for YCP with his 30th goal of the season, coming at the 12:01 mark of the third.
Ford provided the Mustangs with a much-needed response at 3:10 in the fourth, bringing Stevenson to within 11-8.
NEWS AND NOTES
- York turned the tide with its three-goal spurt in the fourth quarter. Before that, the game saw five ties in a back and forth affair.
- Ford was named to the USILA / Dynamic DIII Team of the Week just before the start of Wednesday's game.
- Nolan Enneguess went 7-of-15 at the faceoff dot for Stevenson.
- The Mustangs had their seven-game winning streak snapped, while York continued its strong play with its 13th win in a row.
- Stevenson moved to 66-63 against ranked opponents under head coach Paul Cantabene.
- Ford and Josh Brannan both extended their goal-scoring streaks for the Mustangs. Ford has scored in a team-best 13 consecutive contests, while Brannan has found the back of the net in 12 straight games.
- York takes a 17-5 edge in the all-time series against Stevenson.
- Poust took advantage of an open net as York worked into an aggressive 10-man ride, ripping the shot into the cage.
UP NEXT
- Stevenson: The Mustangs finish up the regular season on Saturday, April 30 with Senior Night against Widener at 7:00 p.m.
- York: The Spartans have a chance to rest as the league's number one seed in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament, returning to action on Thursday, May 5.
