Lions soccer teams in the spotlight this weekend

Two is the magic number for the York Lions soccer teams. That’s how many wins it will take for the men’s and women’s teams to reach the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) National Championships. The Lions will have an opportunity to cut that number in half on Saturday, Oct. 27, when they play host to the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) quarter finals at York Stadium. Game times are 11:30am and 2pm.

The York Lions finished first in the OUA West in men’s and women’s competition. Opponents will be determined Wednesday after the first round of the playoffs. If the York women’s team wins on Saturday, they will play host to the OUA Final Four Nov. 3 and 4 at York Stadium.

Canlan Ice Sports also will be a busy place this week. The York Lions women’s hockey team is back on home ice Friday, at 8pm, when it faces the Queen’s Golden Gaels. The Lions had a five-game winning streak snapped when they lost 2-0 against the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks Sunday night in Waterloo.

A day earlier, rookie goaltender Sydney McMurter continued her stellar play, stopping 24 shots to pick up a 2-0 shutout over the Waterloo Warriors. The Orillia native is 3-0 this season and has allowed just four goals.

Right: Sydney McMurter

This Thursday, at 7pm, the Lions men’s hockey team will take on a divisional rival – the Guelph Gryphons – at Canlan. Rookie goalie Carlo DiRienzo has been sharp for York (2-2) in his first four games, now allowing more than two goals in any of them.

Left: Carlo DiRenzo

Finally, in badminton action this week, the York Lions squad aim for their first win when they battle the University of Toronto Varsity Blues Saturday (Oct. 27, 10am) at the Tait McKenzie Centre.

Submitted to YFile by Mike Koreen, sport & recreation information officer in York’s School of Kinesiology & Health Science, Faculty of Health.