If Mark Ludwig were to write down his recruiting pitch to prospective York College men's soccer players, the letter would probably unwind a little something like this.

---Dear Mr. (insert blue-chip recruit's name here).

Here at York College, you'll have the chance to practice, train and play games within top-rate facilities. You'll be a part of a program that is quickly becoming one of the best and most storied in NCAA Division III. And you will have the opportunity to play in marquee games that you'll remember forever.

Well, part three of this hypothetical sales pitch is upon us.

The Spartan men, owners of a flawless 12-0 record and a No. 3 national ranking, will make the 40-minute drive to Grantham Wednesday for a meeting with five-time national champion Messiah (9-0-1).

The most highly anticipated match of the regular season with the No. 2 Falcons will be played on Shoemaker Field under the lights at 7 p.m.

And it will include all the necessities -- postseason-like intensity, all-out effort and a perfect mixture of sweat and desire -- to deliver exactly the type of game Ludwig tells his recruits they'll get to be a part of.

Does it get any better than this?

"It's one of the most fabled Division III soccer fields and it's hosted a lot of huge games in the NCAAs and regular season," said Ludwig, the Spartans' head coach for 10 years.

"We're looking to create another game that has that memorable quality."
If York holds true to the

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form it has shown lately, that won't be a problem.

The Spartans have only allowed two goals all season -- good for a measly .17 goals-against average. And Ludwig said the Spartans' 5-0 romp over traditionally strong Greensboro on Saturday was York's most complete effort of the season.

That means we could all be staring at another thriller with the Falcons on Wednesday night.

The last two seasons, the contests between these perennial D-III powers have come down to the wire. Messiah earned a 2-1 overtime win in 2006 at home before York nailed down a memorable win via the same margin on its home turf last year.

According to Ludwig, York's success this season has occurred thanks to a team that could very well be the best group Ludwig has coached.

"They fight for each other and this group is committed to truly getting better each day," Ludwig said.

That's the kind of attitude that could lead to an unforgettable night Wednesday in Grantham.

-- Jeffrey A. Johnson is a sports reporter for the York Dispatch. He can be reached at jjohnson@yorkdispatch.com or 505-5406.