Alexander Colle | Sports Editor
Featured Image: Striker Joey Cicchillo finished the game with a goal and an assist. | Courtesy of York Lions
The Algoma Thunderbirds stepped into the Lion’s Den Saturday afternoon hoping to survive against two York teams that have been playing their best soccer of the season.
The men’s team was looking to distance themselves from the rest of the OUA West division.
The result in the men’s match was a dominant 6-0 victory by the Lions, highlighted by a hat trick from York forward Milan Beader, who scored his first goal in the first five minutes of the match off of an assist by Steve Kloutsouniotis.
Thirteen minutes later, midfielder Christian Cavallini gave York some insurance in the form of his 12th goal of the season, which is the third-most in the OUA.
Rather than sit back and coast, York kept their foot on the gas, as Beader added two more in the half to complete the hat trick. His second goal came in the 22nd minute via an assist once again from Kloutsouniotis, and he netted his third in the 42nd minute, which was assisted by Joey Cicchillo.
The Lions completely dominated Algoma for the entire half, as they outshot the Thunderbirds 14-0.
Much like the first half, the Lions controlled the pace in the second half, dominating possession throughout the final 45 minutes.
In the 69th minute, York extended their lead when striker Cicchillo netted his second of the season off a pass from Adam Parda in the front third.
Parda was rewarded for his generous play in the 83rd minute, when he found the back of the net himself, via an assist from Sergiu Anton, for his first goal of the season.
Goalkeeper Quillan Roberts was relatively untested for the entire match, as he only had to make a single save en route to his third clean sheet of the season.
The 6-0 victory is York’s largest victory of the season, and increased their hold on first place in the division.
The women also dominated their matchup Saturday afternoon, defeating a floundering Algoma team that has now dropped 13-straight games.
The scoring started in the 16th minute, when York midfielder Christina Morelli netted her third goal of the season off of an assist from Stephanie Lamanna.
York controlled the ball for most of the first half, outshooting Algoma 14-0.
The women put on even more pressure in the second half, scoring in the 55th minute via midfielder Ashley Nater, her fourth of the season.
Kendra Saxton tacked on one more in the 66th minute of play, giving the Lions a 3-0 lead, which would become the final score.
Goalkeeper Tamara Orlando recorded her second clean sheet of the season, saving three shots in the victory.
York outshot the Thunderbirds 34-3 in the match, a season best for a Lions team that has now won their last three games.
Next week the Lions finish their regular seasons against the Windsor Lancers at Alumni Field. Kick-off is at 1:00 p.m. for the women, and 3:15 p.m. for the men.
