The York University Lions women’s tennis team won the silver medal at the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championships for the third straight year on Sunday, Oct. 8 with a 4-3 loss to the Western University Mustangs in the tournament final at the Mayfair Parkway Tennis Club.
The Lions men’s team also had the same finish as last year, ending the tournament in fourth place with a 7-0 loss to the Mustangs in the bronze-medal match. The Universite de Montreal Carabins won the gold medal and the University of Toronto Varsity Blues captured the silver.
In the women’s tournament, the top-seeded Lions earned a bye through the first round and then defeated the Carabins 6-1 in the semifinals to reach their fourth straight OUA final. More details on the York Lions website.
Women’s rugby Lions advance to OUA semis for first time in program history
The York University Lions women’s rugby team advanced to the OUA semifinals for the first time in program history on Friday night (Oct. 6), with a 34-24 victory over the Brock University Badgers in their conference quarter-final game.
The game was a back-and-forth affair in which the Lions finally exploded for three straight tries in the second half to pull ahead en route to the victory. After playing in 10 quarter-final matches since 1994, including in each of the last five years, the Lions finally got over the hump and will make their first semifinal appearance next weekend.
The Lions had five players score a try in the game, with Cheyenne Legerton doing so twice, and Natasha Naismith kicked a pair of conversions. More details.
Offence comes alive in football Lions’ loss to defending champion Hawks
The York University Lions football team had top receiver Colton Hunchak in the lineup for the first time this season and his presence sparked the offence in a 53-31 loss to the No. 5 nationally ranked Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks in their home season finale on Thursday night (Oct. 5) at Alumni Field.
Hunchak suffered an injury in the team’s pre-season game against Sherbrooke in mid-August and returned on Thursday night to catch 14 balls for 170 yards and two touchdowns. Both of the scoring passes came from his older brother Brett Hunchak, who had his best game of the season going 34-of-49 for 388 yards and one interception. He also added another 50 yards on the ground on five carries and scored a rushing touchdown.
The Lions moved the ball all night, picking up 519 total yards on 75 offensive plays. The Golden Hawks, meanwhile, ran only 56 plays but averaged more than a first down per snap thanks to a number of big plays. More details.
Men’s soccer Lions continue unbeaten streak with victory over Badgers
The No. 8 nationally ranked York University Lions men’s soccer team travelled to St. Catharines, Ont., on Thanksgiving Sunday (Oct. 8) to take on the Brock University Badgers. The Lions came out with a 3-0 win over the Badgers and extended their unbeaten streak to 10 matches.
Scorers for the Lions were Milan Beader in the first half, and Cristian Cavallini and Joey Cicchillo in the second half. Goalkeeper Quillan Roberts finished with his second clean sheet of the season, blocking the Badgers’ three attempts to score. More details.
On Friday night (Oct. 6), the Lions blanked the McMaster University Marauders 3-0 at Ron Joyce Stadium. Cavallini got the ball rolling in the first half with a goal in the 15th minute of play that came after some confusion on the pitch whereby the free kick was never whistled in. The Lions played on and were rewarded with Cavallini’s goal uncontested.
Just seven minutes later, the Lions added to their lead, this time off the foot of Eddie Lay when he took a crossing pass and fired it into the bottom corner of the net. The Lions held the 2-0 advantage into the halftime break. More details.
Women’s soccer Lions grateful for Thanksgiving win, their second in a row
The York University Lions women’s soccer team faced the Brock University Badgers in St. Catharines, Ont., for a Thanksgiving Sunday (Oct. 8) match-up and won 3-0 for their second victory in a row.
Fifth-year midfielder Ashley Nater scored one goal in both the first and second halves, with second-year midfielder Kendra Saxton also scoring in the second half. Goalkeeper Tamara Orlando successfully blocked all three of the Badgers’ shots in net to finish the game with a clean sheet and her first victory of the year. More details.
The Lions began the weekend with a 2-1 victory over the McMaster University Marauders on Friday night (Oct. 6).
It didn’t take long for the Lions to get on the board as Farkhunda Muhtaj scored a beauty just five minutes in, when she looped the ball over the head of McMaster goalkeeper Deanna Persico and tucked it inside the far post for a 1-0 lead. The Lions controlled possession for most of the half but couldn’t generate many scoring chances and they carried the 1-0 advantage into the half. More details.