After impressive regular seasons, the York Lions men’s and women’s soccer teams are ready for playoff action this Saturday at York Stadium on the Keele campus.
The Lions, ranked second in Canada in men’s and women’s competition, play host to Ontario University Athletics (OUA) West semi-final games Saturday at 11:30am & 2pm. Both teams are two wins away from earning a berth in their respective Canadian Interuniversity Sport National Championships.
Left: York Lions Stefania Morra (left) in action earlier this season
The Lions women’s team (13-1) will battle the Brock Badgers (6-4-5), who beat the Western Mustangs in a 1-0 shootout in a first-round playoff game on Wednesday. The Lions suffered their only loss of the season against Brock, falling 1-0 on Sept. 23 at York. In the season opener, however, York defeated the Badgers 1-0.
The Lions men’s team (11-1-2) will face the Windsor Lancers (7-7-1), who knocked off the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks 2-0 in a first-round playoff game on Wednesday. York is 2-0 against the Lancers this season.
The Lions featured the leading scorers in OUA men’s and women’s soccer this season. York’s Stefania Morra scored 19 goals to lead the women’s league, while Lions star Moreno Alberti notched 10 goals to tie for the lead in men’s play.
The winners of Saturday’s games advance to the OUA Final Four next weekend. The Lions women’s team will play host to the Final Four if it beats Brock. The highest-ranked remaining team in the OUA East will play host to the men’s Final Four.
Admission for Saturday’s doubleheader is $5 for adults and $3 for students.