The York Lions are not playing host to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport national field hockey championship, but they still will enjoy a hometown advantage.
The championship takes places this week, Thursday to Sunday, at the University of Toronto and the Lions will join the host Varsity Blues to give Toronto two entries in the five-team event.
York enters the competition as the underdog, earning the fifth and final seed after defeating the Western Mustangs 2-0 in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) bronze medal match on Oct. 28 in Ottawa. The Lions (11-6) have not lost consecutive games all season, giving them reason for optimism heading into the tournament.
York will square off against the top-seeded UBC Thunderbirds, the No. 2 Guelph Gryphons, the No. 3 Varsity Blues and the No. 4 Victoria Vikes in a round-robin competition. The Lions have earned a berth in the national championship for the second year in a row and the third time in head coach Deb Fullerton’s five-year tenure. Last season, York finished fifth in Vancouver.
The Lions feature three OUA first-team all-stars in Effie Petrou, Lauren Conforzi and second-teamer Leanne Kelly.
For full coverage, check out the CIS field hockey championship Web site.
Tickets are $5 for one day or $15 for an event pass.
York Lions CIS championship schedule
- Thursday, Nov. 1, vs. Guelph, 3:30pm
- Friday, Nov. 2, vs. Victoria, 12:20pm
- Saturday, Nov. 3, vs. Toronto, 10am; vs. UBC, 4pm
- Sunday, Nov. 4, Bronze medal match, 10am; Gold medal match, 1pm
Submitted to YFile by Mike Koreen, sport & recreation information officer in York’s School of Kinesiology & Health Science, Faculty of Health.