Weekend wrap: Lions’ strong start carries them to first win of 2018 against Lancers

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York U Lions

The York University Lions notched their first victory of the 2018 season at home on Friday night, as they picked up a 29-22 win against the University of Windsor Lancers. The Lions started strong, scoring the first 21 points of the game, and their defence pushed back in the second half to secure the victory and take their record to 1-2 on the season.

After an opening drive by Windsor resulted in a missed field goal by Lancers kicker Clark Green, Lions ace return specialist Alex Daley ran back the missed kick 75 yards to give the Lions good field position on the Windsor 40-yard line. York opened the scoring a few plays later on a one-yard touchdown plunge by running back Kayden Johnson to give the Lions a 7-0 lead. More details on the York Lions website.

Lions defeat Mustangs to even their record at 1-1 on the season

The York University Lions women’s rugby team won their first game of the season Saturday night with a 33-19 victory over the University of Western Mustangs in their second and final home game of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) regular season.

After battling for 11 minutes, Megan Pakulis scored the first try of the game, followed by Natasha Naismith adding her first of three conversions to give the Lions a 7-0 lead.

The Lions continued to control the play as their second try came in the 24th minute of play, courtesy of Brittany Ediagbonya, while Naismith added her second conversion to increase the score to 14-0. The Mustangs reacted quickly, cutting into the Lions’ lead in the 38th minute with a try by Veronica Harrigan and convert by Lexi Smith to bring the score to 14-7 at the half. More details.

Town brings home silver medal at FISU World Championships

Women’s wrestler Alexandria Town ended her university career in style on Friday as she won the silver medal at the FISU World University Wrestling championships in the 57-kilogram weight class.

Town won her opening match of the competition against Jowita Wrzisen of Poland by a close 10-8 score. She was defeated by eventual gold medallist Ramona Galambos of Hungary via pin (6-4) in her second match, but rebounded to dominate Aleksandra Andreeva of Russia by a score of 10-0 in her third and final match to claim the silver medal. More details. 

Lions bounce back against Laurier, score 1-0 win in Frosh Frenzy game

The York University Lions women’s soccer team redeemed themselves against the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks on Thursday, Sept. 6 at Alumni Field during the annual Frosh Frenzy game. In front of a packed house where all of York’s colleges enthusiastically cheered on the Lions, they won 1-0 against the Golden Hawks, bouncing back their 2-1 loss against Laurier last week.

The Lions kept the pressure against the Hawks throughout the first half of the game. They provided most of the scoring chances in the first half with 10 shots, which greatly outweighed Laurier, who fired three at the Lions’ net. More details.

The following night, the women’s soccer team won their second game of the week as they beat the McMaster University Marauders with a 1-0 win in Hamilton, Ont.

It was York’s Jessica Lush who scored the only goal of the game early in the sixth minute of the first half at Ron Joyce Stadium.

Lush, who also scored the only goal for York in their previous game against the Laurier Golden Hawks, has now gone back-to-back games with the game-winning goal for the Lions. More details.

 Lions shut out Laurier in second straight game

The York University Lions men’s soccer team took on the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks for the second straight game and came out with almost the same result as they won 3-0 in front of York’s engaging Frosh Frenzy crowd. The Lions beat the Golden Hawks on the road in their last game by a score of 4-0.

Prior to kickoff, the 2017 Lions men’s soccer team, who won the OUA championships last season, was recognized in a pre-game ceremony. Former athletes Jonathan Lao, DeVante Walker, Andrew D’Souza and Joey Cichillo all returned for the occasion and watched as the 2017 OUA championships banner was revealed above the press box before the game. More details.

On Friday night, the men’s soccer team tied their game against the McMaster University Marauders at the Ron Joyce Stadium in Hamilton, Ont., with a final score of 1-1.

Midfielder Emmanuel Zambazis, who had an assist in York’s last game against the Laurier Golden Hawks, was able to score York’s only goal of the game, his first in a Lions uniform. More details.