York’s football Lions will host the defending Vanier Cup Champion Laurier Golden Hawks when they return to York Stadium on Saturday for the annual Homecoming game at 2pm.
The Lions fell to 0-2 on the Canadian Interunversity Sports (CIS) season after dropping a competitive 49-26 loss on the road to the University of Western Ontario on Saturday. York rookie receiver Bryce Denisko (right) had a game-high 115 yards on four catches and a touchdown. For his efforts, the Niagara Falls native was named York’s Male Athlete of the Week. Fifth-year running back Pearce Akpata also rushed for a game-high 104 yards including a touchdown in the loss.
For the first time since the 2000 season, the women’s rugby team captured a win in their Ontario University Athletics (OUA) season opener. Third-year flank Jen Roters (left) led the way with seven points in a 17-7 triumph over the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. Roters scored a try and a convert, earning her Female Athlete of the Week honours. The Lions also got five points apiece on trys from Ashely Holligan Mytil and Kristina Lillakas in the victory. Up next for the Lions are the Trent Excalibur, a team which they have dominated. Since the 2001-02 season, York has gone 4-1 against Trent, outscoring the Excalibur 130-23.
York’s men’s hockey had the dubious distinction of being the only CIS team invited to the five-day NHL Toronto Maple Leafs Rookie Tournament being held at the Ricoh Coliseum. Joining York in the tournament were teams comprised of rookies from the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens and Florida Panthers.
Friday night’s opening game against Florida marked the debut of new head coach Bill Maguire behind the Lions’ bench. Goaltender Kevin Druce received high praise after York’s first two games, despite dropping both contests. Against the Panthers, Druce turned aside 49 shots in a 6-1 loss, while he made 29 against the Leafs who won, 7-0. York plays its final contest of the tournament in the third-place game today at 1pm.
York’s defending OUA Champion women’s soccer team remained undefeated after week two of the season, earning a 1-0 win over Waterloo on Thursday and a 1-1 draw with Laurier on Sunday. Fifth-year striker April Noga scored the winner against the Warriors, while Renata Dethomasis netted her first of the year in the tie with Laurier. The Lions travel to McMaster this Saturday before returning to York Stadium for their homeopener on Sunday against the Brock Badgers at 3pm.
The York men’s soccer team continued its early season struggles after dropping a pair of games on the road. On Thursday, the Lions fell 3-1 to the Waterloo Warriors. Second-year player David Nogaro scored the Lions’ lone marker in the loss. On Sunday, a late goal in regulation time gave the Laurier Golden Hawks a 1-0 victory. This week, the Lions look for their first win of the 2006-2007 campaign when they play McMaster on Saturday and Brock on Sunday at York Stadium at 1pm.
The Lions hosted a pre-season tennis tournament at the Rexall Centre on York’s Keele campus this weekend. York’s top-ranked Joelle Fisher won the women’s singles title with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over her Brock opponent. In other divisions, four Lions reached the quarterfinal and two made it to the final four.
For more information on York’s inter-university sports teams, visit the Sport York Web site.
This article was submitted to YFile by Stephen Reid, sport & recreation information assistant in York’s School of Kinesiology & Health Science, Faculty of Health.