The York University Lions women’s rugby team scored early and often on its way to its first win of the season, a 55-0 victory over the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks at University Stadium in Waterloo.
Second-year scrum half Alexis Boltsis and third-year fullback Zoe Smith led the way for the Lions with 15 points each. Boltsis made good on six conversions and one penalty goal kick, while Smith scored three tries.
Aisan Fazeli picked up the Lions’ first try of the match less than 10 minutes into the game, and Boltsis picked up five points in the first half between one conversion kick and later, a penalty goal 30 minutes into the half. More details on the York Lions website.
Kaye’s hat trick leads men’s soccer Lions over Gryphons
Rookie forward Mark Anthony Kaye‘s dominant performance helped lead the York University Lions men’s soccer team to a decisive 3-0 victory over the visiting University of Guelph Gryphons on Sunday, Sept. 16 at York Stadium.
The Toronto native scored all three goals in the first half as part of the win, which extends the Lions’ unbeaten streak to six games to start the season. The Lions remain the only team in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) West without a loss, with a perfect record of 6-0-0, and they outscored their opponents 20-1 in that stretch.
It was the Gryphons who nearly got on the board first. Top-tier captain Robert Murphy, last year’s Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) player of the year, made his first attempt at the net in the seventh minute, narrowly missing his 40-yard shot over the net. More details.
Late goal ends shutout streak as women’s soccer Lions draw Gryphons
The York University Lions women’s soccer team was unable to defend a one-goal lead on Sunday (Sept. 16), surrendering an 88th-minute goal that snapped their five game shutout streak and allowed the visiting University of Guelph Gryphons to play out to a 1-1 draw.
York goalkeeper Sarah Fiorini had been perfect in net for 538 minutes of play before the Gryphons finally broke the shutout streak. The Lions are still one of only three teams in the OUA West without a loss this season, with a 2-0-4 record.
The lengthy shutout streak came to its end when Alexandra Hariss knocked the ball in off of Erica Bain’s corner kick.
The Lions opened the scoring early, with second-year defender Taylor Lyons beating the Gryphon defender with a header off of a corner kick from Rita Keimakh in the seventh minute. More details.
Football Lions lose heartbreaker to Golden Hawks
The York University Lions football team suffered a heartbreaking loss at the hands of the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks on Saturday, Sept. 15, falling by a score of 24-20 at University Stadium in Waterloo.
Running back Lance Freeman scored his second touchdown of the game with just over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Golden Hawks (1-2) their first victory of the season. The loss drops the Lions to 1-2, and both squads are now tied with the Toronto Varsity Blues for sixth place in the OUA standings.
Freeman, who finished the game with 100 total yards, ran in a 28-yard pass from back-up quarterback Steve Fantham to give Laurier the win after York had taken a 20-17 lead just four minutes earlier.
The Lions earned their first lead of the game with 5:44 left in the fourth quarter on a interception by rookie defensive back Chris States that was returned 22 yards to the end zone for a touchdown. He finished as the team’s top defender on the day with 4.5 tackles. More details
Lions finish third at cross country opening meet
The York University Lions men’s and women’s cross country teams both finished in third place at the season-opening meet at Fort Henry Hill in Kingston Saturday, Sept. 15.
On the women’s side, the best Lions finish in the 5km race came courtesy of Giulia Ferrante, who crossed the line in 11th place. Fellow second-year runner Emily McGaugh, was behind her in 23rd place.
Just after her, three Lions crossed the finish line at nearly the same time. Julia Kuternina was 28th, Kelsey Desjarlais, was 29th and Nicole Francki was 30th.
On the men’s side the top finisher was Esteban Clavijo, who ended the 10km race in 12th place. More details.
Field hockey Lions open season with losses to Guelph, Western
The York University Lions field hockey team began the 2012 campaign in Waterloo this past weekend, falling 2-0 to the Guelph Gryphons and 1-0 to the Western Mustangs.
The Lions played a strong game against the defending OUA silver medal-winning Gryphons in their season opener in allowing just two goals, after giving up 10 in two games last season.
Guelph maintained possession and dominated play for much of the first half, and finally got on the scoreboard in the 25th minute when Amy Wise tipped in a shot by Ally Chute from the top of the circle on the left side. More details.