Championship soccer teams set to return to pitch

The York Lions men’s and women’s soccer teams both won provincial titles last season.

This season, both teams hope to take it one step further and come away with national championships.

The road to Canadian Interuniversity Sport (C IS) glory kicks off this weekend when the Lions play host to season-opening doubleheaders at York Stadium. The Guelph Gryphons come to town on Saturday York Lions Francesco Bruno and Stefania Morra(men’s game at 1pm, women’s game at 3:15pm), while the Waterloo Warriors provide the opposition on Sunday (1pm, 3:15pm).

CIS first-team all-Canadians Francesco Bruno (left) and Stefania Morra (right) are back to lead their respective squads. Morra is coming off a 19-goal season, earning her CIS rookie of the year honours.

The women finished second at the national championship last year, while the men placed fourth.

Elsewhere this weekend, the Lions football team travels to Ottawa to meet the Gee-Gees in its first road game of the season. The Lions, under new head coach Mike McLean, opened the season with a 40-7 loss to the Windsor Lancers on Labour Day before 1,500 fans at York Stadium.

The field hockey team also begins its season this weekend at the University of Toronto Invitational tournament.

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