Alexander Colle | Sports Editor
Featured Image: York will have many key players returning this year, including reigning OUA Player of the Year Jonathan Lao. | Courtesy of York Lions
The 2016 regular season for the York Lions men’s soccer team was one for the ages, ending with an undefeated record of 14-0-2. The team continued their superior gameplay from the previous two seasons into last season, netting 59 goals in total while only giving up 19. Part of this success can be attributed to midfielder Jonathan Lao, who was recently named OUA male athlete of the year despite struggling with injuries throughout the season.
“Last season he was dealing with tendonitis. So this season he had to take a different approach,” says Head Coach Carmine Isacco. “In the midfield we put him on the ball a little more and he didn’t have to cover as much space. He was fantastic at it. It was amazing what he accomplished.”
Lao is only the second player in program history to earn a U SPORTS Player of the Year Award.
Despite their success during the regular season, the Lions suffered defeats at both the provincial and national levels, losing to the Guelph Gryphons in the OUA championship and the UBC Thunderbirds in the first round of the U SPORTS championship.
“In the OUA Finals we rested some of our players and aimed to show our depth. We were up early and had the game under control,” says Isacco.
The Lions could not build on a 1-0 lead after the first nine minutes of the match, allowing the Gryphons to score three unanswered goals en route to their first OUA championship in 26 years and fourth in program history. As a result, the Lions had their OUA championship streak end at an impressive three straight years.
“It was for sure a learning experience for our players. We grew from it as a team. It was the same against Alberta in the Nationals. I felt we were the better team. But at this level, being the better team isn’t always enough,” Isacco adds.
The first-round exit in the CIS Championship also meant an end to the two-year winning streak that the Lions had maintained at the national level in the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons.
Looking to next season, Isacco stresses the importance of playing at an elite level every single time his players step on the pitch, whether it is just a practice or a championship match.
“We don’t really set goals. We just want to be at our best every game. That’s what’s important to us. We train that way, we practice that way. We’re focused on making ourselves better. It’s crucial to be at our best, because we weren’t last year.”
Next year will see the return of several key players to the pitch, including the rookie goal scoring duo of Milan Beader and Christian Cavallini, who both tallied 11 goals apiece in 2016. On top of these players, the team boasts young and raw talent that should grow in both skill and strength this offseason.
“We need to maximize our potential, to ensure that our best players are on the field, and to build that cohesion. This offseason is paramount,” adds Isacco.
The Lions will return to the pitch in early September for the start of the 2017 season.
