YORK, Pa. – The No. 25 Salisbury University men's soccer team battled to a 1-1 draw with the No. 20 York (Pa.) College Spartans on Saturday in the Capital Athletic Conference championship. The game advanced to penalty kicks, with the Spartans (16-4-1) claiming the conference championship on penalty kicks by a narrow 4-3 margin.

The Sea Gulls (12-3-5) got on the board first in the game's 31st minute, as junior forward Stafford Chipungu collected a played ball over the head of the Spartan backline. Chipungu cut inside the 18-yard box and rocketed a shot into the bottom left corner and past York goalkeeper Jesse Derksen for the 1-0 lead. At the end of the first half of play, the Sea Gulls held a 6-4 shot advantage and earned the half's only corner kick.

The Spartans were able to knot things up in the 59th minute of action, as Cody Pearson directed a cross into the box before being headed away by an SU defender. York's Antonia Bua regained control of the ball and shot into the top-left corner of the net.

Bua nearly tallied a second goal just a few minutes later as he dribbled into the Salisbury box and put a shot on frame, but a stellar save by SU sophomore goalkeeper John Vnenchak forced the shot up and over the net for a YCP corner kick. The Sea Gulls had a dangerous chance in the final minute of regulation, as sophomore midfielder Jeremy Moyer directed the ball over the York backline. SU senior forward Mike Napolitano caught up with the ball, took two strides and then fired off a shot that went just wide of the Spartan net.

In the first overtime session, Moyer again caused problems for the Spartan defense as he dribbled through a collection of York defenders before being tackled hard just outside of the Spartan 18-yard box. The Derwood, Md., native stood over the free kick but put his shot just over the cross bar.

In the second overtime session, Chipungu nearly created a second goal for the Sea Gulls, this time off of a throw-in. The Baltimore, Md., native stood in the left corner of the pitch, and directed his throw to the middle of the box. Senior defender Justin Lambert's head connected with the ball, but put it just over the cross bar for a Spartan goal kick.

There were a combined 37 shots fired in the contest, with the Sea Gulls taking 16 shots. The two teams each earned a pair of corner kicks.

Vnenchak had a solid game for the Sea Gulls as he finished with five saves and knocked down countless York chances.

The Sea Gulls will now wait to see if they will advance to their fourth straight, and 10th overall, NCAA tournament. Brackets are scheduled to be released on Monday. Please check back on www.suseagulls.com for updates.