ASTON, Pa. - The Neumann University men's soccer team fell in heart-breaking fashion on Saturday evening, dropping a 2-1 non-conference result at the hands of York College.
 
Gavin Ford scored his fourth goal of the season in the loss for Neumann, while Shane Smith made five saves in goal.
 
Looking for their third consecutive win, the Knights would have their hands full with a tough York team. The Spartans set the tempo early, registering three corner kicks in the opening six minutes of play to start the game. The third corner was the charm for York, as they found a loose ball in the box and banged it home to make it 1-0 in favor of the visitors.
 
Despite being down early, Neumann responded after the goal and played some of its best soccer of the contest. After being subbed onto the field at the 14:55 mark of the first half, Ford and teammate Marlon Trejo wasted no time getting involved in the game. Just 50 seconds after being subbed on, Trejo played a great diagonal ball to a darting Ford, who chest-trapped the ball in stride on his way to a breakaway. The freshman forward then calmly faked out the York net-minder and deposited the ball into the back of the net to level the score at 1-1 at the 15:45 mark. The score would stay the same the remainder of the half with York holding a 6-5 edge in shots.
 
In an extremely tight and competitive second half, both teams had chances to work their way in front. York had more shots in the second 45 minutes, but it would be the Knights who had the more quality chances. Neumann's first great opportunity came with just over ten minutes left to play as Ford nearly found his second goal of the match. After being played in behind the Spartan defense on a breakaway, Ford and the York goalie met in a challenge at the top of the box. The freshman forward won the tackle, found the loose-ball and and put it in the back of the net, only to be called off-sides by the linesman.
 
Ford again nearly put Neumann on top with 8:30 left to play. Cutting in from the left flank, he ripped a shot that deflected off a defender before being parried off the post by the Spartan keeper. The game would remain tied until under five minutes left to play.
 
Although the Knights looked the more likely team to score late, York had other plans. With just 3:57 left to play, the Spartans found the game-winner off a glancing header off a cross from the right flank. Undaunted by the late deficit, Neumann fought valiantly to find an equalizer and threw everything they had towards the York net. With under ten seconds left to play the Knights lifted a ball into the Spartan box, but the keeper punched it clear to seal the 2-1 win for York.
 
Neumann (3-3-1) will look to recover quickly before hitting the road on Monday, September 24^th for a date with Rosemont College. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM.