The York Lions will have their division’s best player, rookie and coach on their side this weekend when they play host to the OUA women’s soccer Final Four.
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) announced Thursday that York star Stefania Morra has been named the OUA West’s most valuable player and rookie of the year. York coach Paul James also received a major honour as he was named the OUA West’s coach of the year.
Right: OUA MVP and Rookie of the Year Stefania Morra
Morra and James will be on centre stage Saturday,, 11:30am, when the Lions (14-1) face the Carleton Ravens (11-5-2) in an OUA semi-final at York Stadium, Keele campus. The other semi-final, at 2pm, pits the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (8-4-3) against the Ottawa Gee-Gees (14-2-1). The winners of both semi-finals will square off in the OUA final Sunday, at 2pm, and also will advance to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) championship, Nov. 8-11, in Cape Breton, NS.
Morra led the country with 19 goals in 14 games this season. She came to York from the Toronto Lady Lynx program. James, in his fourth year as head coach of the women’s team, is trying to guide the Lions to their third consecutive CIS championship.
The Lions also led the way with five players on the OUA West first all-star team: Morra, defender Meghan Smith, goalie Aurelea Gumiela, midfielder Alicia Donaldson and midfielder Stephanie Junkin. Defender Alicia Brown was named to the OUA West second all-star team.
Tickets to the OUA Final Four are $5 for adults and $3 for students.
OUA Final Four schedule
(all games at York Stadium)
Saturday, Nov. 3
- York vs. Carleton, 11:30am
- Ottawa vs. Wilfrid Laurier, 2pm
Sunday, Nov. 4 – Bronze-medal match
- 11:30am; Championship final, 2pm
Submitted to YFile by Mike Koreen, sport & recreation information officer in York’s School of Kinesiology & Health Science, Faculty of Health.