The York University Lions men’s soccer team got its Thursday night game against the No. 9 nationally ranked McMaster University Marauders off to an exciting start with Milan Beader opening the scoring in the second minute of play en route to a dominant 5-2 victory over their fiercest rivals.
The crowd at Alumni Field, made up of more than 2,000 fans in attendance as part of the annual Frosh Frenzy festivities, was thrilled by the terrific start and the high energy in the air remained throughout the game.
The Lions took the field unranked in the U SPORTS top 10 for the first time since 2010 and were the underdogs against the No. 9 Marauders, but they played like the favourites early and rolled to their third victory of the season. More details on the York Lions website.
One night later, the Lions extended their winning streak to three with a 3-1 victory over the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks on the road thanks to a hat trick by Steve Kloutsouniotis.
For the second game in a row, it didn’t take long for the Lions to get on the scoreboard as Kloutsouniotis scored his first of the night in the fifth minute of play, with an assist going to Milan Beader. More details.
No. 9 Gee-Gees escape with narrow win over football Lions
The York University Lions football team hung tough throughout the game before coming up just short in a 26-17 loss to the No. 9 nationally ranked University of Ottawa Gee-Gees on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field.
The Lions took the lead with 4:56 remaining in the third quarter on a six-yard touchdown catch by Jesse Amankwaa that made the score 17-16, and held it until there was just under six minutes remaining in the game, when Ottawa’s Lewis Ward kicked what turned out to be the winning field goal to give the Gee-Gees a 19-17 lead. Donald Shaw added a rushing touchdown with 41 seconds remaining for the final points of the game. More details.
Morelli’s late goal gives women’s soccer Lions draw with Marauders
York University Lions fourth-year midfielder Christina Morelli scored a much-needed goal in extra time to end Thursday evening’s women’s soccer match in a 2-2 draw against the McMaster University Marauders. Morelli’s goal came out of a handball infraction resulting in a penalty kick, wrapping up a four-goal game at Alumni Field.
The first goal of the game was scored by Marauder Maila Carboni in the 31st minute of play. The Marauders held this lead for the remainder of the first half, and continued it into the second half with a goal by midfielder Faye Stravropoulos to make it 2-0. More details.
The next night, the Lions were defeated by a score of 2-0 by the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks on the road in Waterloo, Ont., after the home squad scored twice in a six-minute span early in the second half.
The Golden Hawks controlled play for much of the first half and outshot the Lions 6-1 in that span, but the game remained scoreless thanks to the strong play of York goalkeeper Tamara Orlando. More details.
Tennis Lions split season-opening matches against Varsity Blues
The York University Lions women’s tennis team defeated the University of Toronto Varsity Blues 6-1 in their opening match of the 2017 season, while the men lost 5-2 to the same team.
For the Lions women, the result marks their 21st straight regular season victory over an Ontario University Athletics (OUA) opponent dating back to the start of the 2014 season.
They won five of the six singles matches on the morning. Julia Khalilova, Heather Hills, Sara Krupica, Eugenie Lim Ah Tock and Isabella Baston, playing in the second through fifth spots, respectively, were all victorious in straight sets and none of them lost more than three games in a set.
On the men’s side, Tre Eli and Georg Zoidl won their singles matches in convincing fashion. Eli was victorious 6-3, 6-4 while Zoidl won 6-2, 6-2. Eli also teamed up with rookie Andreas Findlay to win York’s lone doubles point. More details.
Reigning champion Gryphons defeat rugby Lions in York home opener
The York University Lions women’s rugby team took on the University of Guelph Gryphons Friday at Alumni Field in their first home game of the season. The Lions played their hearts out, but faced a tough loss of 76-10 to the reigning OUA champions.
Third-year centre Megan Pakulis scored a try in the 28th minute. Catherine Belanger made the subsequent conversion and a three-point penalty goal in the 36th minute for the Lions’ points. More details.