The York University Lions men’s volleyball team moved into sole possession of first place on Saturday afternoon after an exciting five-set victory over the Queen’s University Gaels at the Tait McKenzie Centre.
The first set was tight, with neither team holding a lead of more than two points throughout. One of the two teams pulled even with the other on 14 different occasions in the set, and it was Queen’s that won back-to-back points from 24-24 to win the first set 26-24. The second set was much different as the Lions dominated the second half thanks in part to a six-point run and they took it 25-14 to level the match at 1-1. More details on the York Lions website.
One day later, the Lions swept the Royal Military College (RMC) Paladins for their fifth straight victory on the season. The win improved their season record to 8-1 and they hold down first place in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) East by four points.
The score in the first set remained close at first, but the Lions soon began to pull ahead. They led 16-8 at the technical time out, and though the Paladins closed the gap slightly, the Lions won the set 25-20. More details.
Women’s volleyball Lions erase two-set deficit in 3-2 win over Gaels
The York University Lions women’s volleyball team won an absolute thriller on Saturday afternoon, coming back from two sets down to defeat the visiting Queen’s University Gaels 3-2 in an important Ontario University Athletics (OUA) East match at the Tait McKenzie Centre.
The match did not begin the way the Lions would have hoped. In the first set, the Gaels raced out to an 8-2 lead and, while the Lions were able to cut the deficit to one at 20-19, they were never able to level the score and fell 25-22. More details.
The Lions extended their winning streak to five matches on Sunday afternoon, earning a four-set victory over the Royal Military College (RMC) Paladins. The first set remained close up until the end of the match, when the Lions were finally able to pull ahead and finish four points ahead of the Paladins at 25-21. More details.
Women’s hockey Lions pick up big victory over Lancers in Windsor
The York University Lions women’s hockey team picked up an important three points in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) standings on Saturday afternoon with a 3-1 victory over the University of Windsor Lancers on the road.
The Lions were the first team to get on the board, breaking the scoreless tie at the 12:53 mark of the first period. Forward Courtney Gardiner was able to beat Morgan Farrow. After the goal, the Lancers tightened up and got to the break down 1-0 after 20 minutes.
In the second period, the Lancers were able to make the best out of a bad situation. Halfway through the frame while killing a penalty, Amy Maitre fired one past Lions goaltender Lauren Dubie. The goal, assisted by Muna Fadel, tied the game just as the Lions' power play came to a close. More details.
On Thursday night, the Lions allowed a late goal to the University of Guelph Gryphons and then lost in overtime in a 4-3 game. The Lions led on three separate occasions in the game, but each time they took a one-goal advantage the Gryphons came back to tie it, and then they capitalized on their lone shot in overtime to pick up the second point.
The entire first period and most of the second were scoreless, but the Lions finally broke the deadlock at 18:04 on a goal by rookie Brooke Anderson and appeared headed to the intermission with the lead. However, just 24 seconds before the final whistle the Gryphons leveled the score on a goal by Kaitlin Lowy. More details.
Thunderwolves force overtime late but men’s hockey Lions secure shootout win
The York University Lions men’s hockey team picked up their first win of 2018 on home ice Friday night against the Lakehead University Thunderwolves. The win did not come easy as the Lions let a third period lead slip away, but they came away with a 5-4 shootout victory.
Despite the relatively high scores for both teams, there surprisingly were no goals scored in the first period. Scoring picked up in the second, beginning with a goal by rookie Ben Verrall, his first career tally.
Midway through the frame, the Thunderwolves took control of the puck and scored pair of goals just 39 seconds apart. These came from Brennan Dubchak and Patrick Murphy, both assisted by Scott Gall, to give Lakehead a 2-1 lead. More details.
One night later, the Lions were handed a 3-1 loss by the Western University Mustangs at Canlan Ice Sports. The Mustangs opened the scoring at the 14:56 mark of the first period, off the stick of Kolyen Olynek. It was the only goal of the frame.
Western’s lead held until late in the second, when Stefano Pezzetta found the back of the net at 17:41 to finally get the Lions on the board and level the score at 1-1. More details.
Women’s basketball Lions play No. 4 Ravens tough in narrow six-point loss
The York University Lions women’s basketball team played an impressive game on Saturday night, pushing the No. 4 nationally ranked Carleton University Ravens from start to finish in a narrow 68-62 loss at the Tait McKenzie Centre.
The six-point difference between the two teams is the smallest margin of victory of the season for the undefeated Ravens, who are the defending Ontario University Athletics (OUA) champions. They are now 14-0 on the year, while the Lions dropped to 6-8.
The two teams traded baskets back and forth throughout the first quarter and the Ravens led by two, at 21-19, after the opening 10 minutes. They went on a roll in the second and built an 11-point advantage by the half, holding a 41-30 lead over the hosts. More details.
The night before, a slow opening quarter was too difficult to overcome in a 57-53 loss to the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees. The visitors raced out to an 18-5 lead after the first 10 minutes of play and stretched that advantage at the half, doubling up on the Lions with a 42-21 score.
The second half was a different story, however. The Gee-Gees scored the first points of the third quarter, but after that it was all York. They put up 18 points in the frame to cut the deficit to 10 heading into the final quarter, and continued to pour in the baskets in the fourth. More details.
Top-ranked Ravens continue win streak with victory over men’s basketball Lions
The York University Lions men’s basketball team fought hard but ultimately were handed a loss by the top-ranked and undefeated Carleton University Ravens at the Tait McKenzie Centre on Saturday night.
The high-scoring Ravens wasted little time taking the lead in the contest as they built a 25-13 advantage after the first quarter. The game was a much tighter affair after that, as the Lions evened the Ravens at 19 points apiece in the second and then outscored them by five points in the third to trail by just seven heading into the final quarter. However, the Ravens did enough to maintain their lead in the fourth and rolled to the win. More details.
On Friday night, the Lions lost to the No. 7 University of Ottawa Gee-Gees by a score of 87-44. The strong Gee-Gees squad shot over 50 per cent from the floor and from behind the arc while holding the Lions to just 21.9 per cent from the floor. That discrepancy led to a dominating four quarters for the visitors, who outscored the Lions in each frame for the lopsided victory. More details.
Track and field Lions earn seven medals at Can Am Classic in Windsor
The York University Lions men’s and women’s track and field teams headed down the 401 to Windsor, Ont. to compete in the 37th annual Can Am Classic this past weekend and had seven podium finishes, three U SPORTS automatic qualifiers and 16 new personal bests.
Leading the way on the women's side was fifth-year captain Holly Pitters, who won the gold medal in the women's long jump with a best jump of 5.73m. Also on the women's side, Christy Ihunaegbo finished third in the 300m dash with a time of 39.18 seconds.
On the men’s side, third-year pole vaulter Samuel Adams tied for first in the event with a personal-best jump of 5.01m. Kayden Johnson also qualified for U SPORTS championships in the men's 60m hurdles after claiming the gold medal in Windsor a time of 8.21 seconds. More details.
Lans wins bronze medal to lead Lions wrestlers at Brock Open
York University Lions women’s wrestler Christelle Lans won the bronze medal in the women’s 72kg weight class at the Brock Open in St. Catharines, Ont., on Saturday, one of five top-six finishes for the Lions at the meet.
Lans won her first match over Western’s Olivia Cirillo but came up short in her second to Shauna Kuebeck, the eventual silver medallist. She got back on track in the consolation draw, however, defeating Amanda Gaines from Springfield College and Nicole French of the Brock Badgers to earn a spot on the podium.
On the men’s side, the best result came courtesy of Kevin Vuong in the 54kg division with a fourth-place finish. After losing his first match to Lachlin McNeil, who went on to win the gold medal, he defeated Matt Anderson to have a chance to wrestle for a medal but was defeated by Algoma’s Brody Collison.