The York University Lions women's hockey team scored three times in the third period to secure a big comeback win by a score of 3-1 against the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks on Saturday evening at Canlan Ice Sports.
After a slow start to the year, the Lions are now red hot having won five of their last six games and earning the maximum six points in two games this weekend.
The game did not start out well for the Lions, as they took an early penalty just 30 seconds into the game and the Golden Hawks capitalized on the game's first power play when forward Emily Visser gave the visitors a 1-0 lead at 1:27. She broke in off the right wing and rifled a shot over the right shoulder of Lions goaltender Lauren Dubie for her first goal of the season. More details on the York Lions website.
A day earlier, the Lions beat the Waterloo Warriors 4-1 on Friday, Jan. 11 in Waterloo, Ont.
The Lions were the first to get on the scoreboard at 13:23 with a goal from Caroline Eagles. The first-year kinesiology and health science student scored the first goal of her Lions career, with assists from Ellen Donaldson and Leah Hibbert. The Lions continued their momentum as they scored their second goal of the game less than a minute later at 14:05. Erin Locke netted her fifth goal of the season, with assists from Hibbert and Jenna Gray. More details.
Lions claim seven medals at Sharon Anderson Memorial Meet
The York University Lions track and field team kicked off their 2019 year with a successful meet over the weekend, as the team claimed seven medals at the Sharon Anderson Memorial Meet at the University of Toronto campus.
York's throwers led the way for the squad, earning a combined three medals in the weight throw event. Drew Erskine tossed his way to the gold medal in the men's event, hurling a personal best of 16.64m on his third throw to win the event. Not far behind Erskine was Jonathan Raspanti, who earned the bronze medal with a throw of 14.49m.
In the women's event, 2016 Olympian Brittany Crew also claimed the gold medal with a toss of 18.94m, a season's best for the two-time York female Athlete of the Year. The winning throw came on her sixth and final attempt, and she needed it to win, as Jordana Badley-Castello of the Windsor Lancers had thrown an 18.49m toss on her fifth attempt. More details.
Lions medal at Brock Open, women’s team finishes third in team standings
The York Lions wrestling teams brought home some hardware from the Brock University Open on Saturday, as Bailey Agard, Lynelle Vassell and Shevonne Witter-Watts each won medals and the women's team finished in third place overall for the meet.
Agard continued her outstanding rookie season with the Lions, bringing home the silver medal in the women's 51kg weight class. Her biggest win of the tournament came against Sam Ramono of the host Badgers, who was an Ontario University Athletics (OUA) gold medallist and a U SPORT silver medallist last year, in addition to winning the junior national championship. Agard dominated Ramono, winning 10-0 in their match. Her lone loss of the tournament came in the first round of the tournament to Stefana Jelacic from the River Falls wrestling club, one of the most successful wrestling clubs in the U.S. More details.
LaFrance scores shootout winner to defeat Gryphons 4-3
The York University men's hockey team defeated the University of Guelph Gryphons 4-3 in a shootout after two late goals by the Gryphons sent the game into overtime on Thursday evening at Gryphon Centre Arena in Guelph, Ont.
Josh LaFrance scored the lone goal during the shootout to top the Gryphons 4-3. LaFrance has been on fire this season, earning 19 points with four goals and 15 assists. Lions goaltender Mack Shields also had a strong game and saved 46 shots on goal, adding to his total of 491 saves this season and putting him in third place in the OUA.
The Gryphons scored early in the first period with a goal just under three minutes by Cody Thompson. The Lions tied the game at 17:42 on a short-handed goal by Scott Feser, who was assisted by Justin Bean. The Lions had 12 shots on goal in the first period, while the Gryphons had 15. More details.
On Saturday evening, the Lions lost 2-1 against the University of Western Mustangs on the road in London, Ont.
The Mustangs, who had 13 shots in the first period of the game, were off to a great start as they secured their first goal at 17:49. Western's Spencer Cobbold was able to get a goal past York's Mack Shields with an assist from his teammate Kyle Petit.
Two minutes later, the Lions were able to respond to the Mustangs' lead by closing it with a goal of their own. York's Jeremy Lucchini, with assists from Stefano Pezzetta and Josh LaFrance, scored the first goal of his Lions career. York had seven shots in the first period as the Lions and the Mustangs finished the first period tied 1-1. More details.
Lions top cross-town rival Blues for first win of 2019
The York University women's basketball snapped out of a five-game slide and picked up their first win of 2019 with a 69-61 victory over their cross-town rivals the University of Toronto Varsity Blues in front of a full gym at the Tait McKenzie Centre on Friday night.
The Lions started the game strong, scoring on their first two shots of the game. The first came from guard Haley Bowie, and the second on a driving layup by forward Lauren Golding. Two baskets from Megan MacLeod and layup from Alysha Pinck followed and the Lions jumped out to an early 11-2 lead less than three minutes into the game. The home squad cooled off after their hot start as the Blues crept back into the game and led the Lions 17-16 at the first quarter break. More details.
The following night, the Lions lost 71-54 to the Ryerson University Rams at the Tait McKenzie Centre in their second cross-town rivals game of the weekend. The loss followed a big win against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues last night, also at the Tait McKenzie Centre.
The Lions fell behind the Rams in the first quarter by one point as they finished the first stanza down 19-18. York guards Haley Bowie and Emma Jonas, and forward Lauren Golding, all contributed five points in the first quarter of the game to help the Lions remain close to the visiting team that is currently placed second in the OUA East Division. More details.
Lions give No. 4 Rams all they can handle in hard-fought game
The York University Lions men's basketball team lost 84-77 after a well-played, hard-fought game against the second-ranked team in the country, the Ryerson University Rams, on Saturday at the Tait McKenzie Centre.
York's Prince Kamunga started the game off with a three-point shot within the first 45 seconds. Nana Adu-Poku supplemented Kamunga's points with two points of his own with a jump shot to score the first points for the Lions.
Ryerson soon responded to York's early 5-0 lead by scoring two jump shots in a row of their own. York's Deandre Pierre was able to contribute four points in the quarter, helping the Lions maintain their lead over Ryerson, while Gianmarco Luciani was also a great contributor for the Lions in the first quarter as well as the entire game. More details.
On Friday evening, the Lions fell to the Toronto Varsity Blues by a score of 63-58 at the Tait McKenzie Centre in the first game between the cross-town rivals this season.
A three-pointer from Blues guard Evan Shadkami opened the scoring in the game, while Lions forward Gianmarco Luciani had the first points of the night for the Lions with a free throw followed by a nice jumper for an early 3-3 tie. Lions guard Chevon Brown got off to a good start, nailing back-to-back three-pointers early in the first quarter as the Lions jumped out in front. The Lions took a 15-10 lead into the second quarter after a defensive opening frame from both teams. More details.
Lions fall on road to No. 4 Rams 3-1
The York Lions women's volleyball team took a close second set from the Ryerson University Rams on Saturday afternoon at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, but they were unable to steal any more games from the fourth-ranked team in the country as they fell 3-1.
The first set started evenly with the teams trading points in the early going. A kill from Lions outside hitter Celeste Witzell gave the Lions a 15-14 lead at the midway point of the set, but the two squads stayed close and were tied at 20-20 after an attack error by the Rams' Sara Piana. From there, the Rams took over for the remainder of the set and won five of the next six points to take the first set 25-21. More details.
Lions lose close game to Rams 3-2
The York Lions men's volleyball team lost a close game 3-2 to their cross-town rivals, the Ryerson University Rams, on Saturday afternoon at the Mattamy Athletic Centre. The Lions held a 2-1 lead, but were unable to hold off their rivals as the Rams took the last two sets to secure the victory.
The Rams drew first blood in the match, winning the first set 25-21. Grant Lynch scored the first point of the set for the Lions to tie the score at 1-1, but the Rams would pull ahead and hold the lead for the rest of the set. The score remained close right until the end, with Andrew Shotbolt pulling the Lions within two points at 23-21, but the Rams would win the next two points to take the opening set. More details.