Uzodinma Ukagwu | Sports Editor
Featured Image: With the pair of wins, the men completed an undefeated season, going 13-0-3. | Courtesy of York Lions
The Lions soccer teams played their last two games of the regular season this weekend, with both teams recording victories to finish the regular season on a high note.
On Friday, they were in Windsor, taking on the Lancers.The women won 4-3, and the men won 1-0.
The women played a highly contested and end-to-end game. All four goals came in the first half—an entertaining fifteen-minute period between the 13th and 28th minutes.
The Lions took the lead twice, first through Christina Morelli in the 13th minute, and then through Kiyani Johnson in the 22nd minute, but the Lancers responded each time, evening the score with equalising goals in the 20th and 27th minutes to finish the first-half deadlocked at two goals a side.
The second half was as exciting as the first. The Lancers took the lead for the first time in the game in the 70th minute, making the score 3-2.
However, the Lions remained determined till the end—which paid off, as they scored twice, again through Kiyani Johnson in the 79th minute, and Christina Morelli in the 88th minute, to complete the comeback and escape with the 4-3 victory.
The men’s game was a much tamer affair. The Lions won 1-0 courtesy of a 64th-minute goal from Omar Marzouk.
Next, the two teams were in London on Sunday, taking on the Western Mustangs. The women won 5-2, and the men won 2-1.
The women’s game started in an uncertain fashion, as they conceded an early goal to Western in the 8th minute.
The Lions were, however, back on track by the end of the first half, as Morelli scored the equalizer in the 20th minute, assisted by Farkhunda Muhtaj. Then, in the 39th minute, Johnson found the back of the net, giving the Lions a 2-1 lead, assisted by Teni Odetoyinbo.
The flood gates opened in the second half, as the Lions added some insurance in the form of three more goals.
The first came in the 57th minute, again through Morelli, as she recorded her second two-goal-game of the weekend.
The next two Lion’s goals were scored in the 70th and 77th minutes by Kalifornia Mitchell and Stephanie Lamanna to give the Lions a 5-1 lead. The Mustangs, however, scored a consolation goal in the 88th minute, as the game ended 5-2, in favour of York.
In the men’s game, the Lions started strong, scoring the first goal in the 3rd minute through Chris Jacovou.
The Mustangs fought back and found the equalizer in the 17th minute, tying the game at one goal a piece, which remained that way well into the second-half.
Finally, with a little over 25 minutes to play, Jon Alec Toromoreno-Deunas scored the game-winner, as York went on to win the game 2-1, completing their undefeated season.
Both teams have produced memorable performances this season, and the stand out performers have been women’s midfielder Farkhunda Muhtaj, who leads the OUA in assists with 11, and men’s forward Omar Marzouk, who’s second in the OUA in scoring with 14 goals.
The men conclude the season in first place on the OUA West, with a 13-0-3 record. The women are second with a 10-4-2 record.
Both teams will get a first-round-bye by virtue of their season rankings, and will begin the playoffs next week, after their opponents have been determined.
