LIONS SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER AGAINST LANCERS
The York University Lions soccer teams continued their three-game road trips with a stop at Alumni Field on Saturday (Sept. 11) to battle the Windsor Lancers in an afternoon double-header. The men’s team dominated in a 6-0 victory, while the women’s team suffered a hard-fought 3-0 loss.
In the men’s match, the Lions scored early and often in a one-sided affair. Fourth-year defenceman Jamaal Smith (Mississauga, Ont.) needed only six minutes to net the first goal of the game that gave the Lions a 1-0 lead. Smith’s goal would prove to be the game winner.
Fourth-year midfielder Franecesco Vescio (Woodbridge, Ont.) and rookie Alon Badat (Thornhill, Ont.) led the Lions’ offensive onslaught. Vescio recorded two goals – both in the second half – on two shots, and Badat impressed with one goal and five shots. Adrian Pena (Woodbridge, Ont.) and Moreno Alberti (Winnipeg) rounded out the scoring for the Lions with goals in the 55th and 88th minutes, respectively. Pena and Alberti now lead the OUA in scoring with three goals each.
Lions’ goalkeeper Sotiri Varlokostas (Toronto) made three saves to record his second shutout of the season. In three games this year, Varlokostas has surrendered only one goal.
With the win, the Lions improve to 2-1-0 on the season, while the Lancers fall to 1-1-1. The Lions are 3-1-1 in their last five games against the Lancers.
In the women’s match, the Lancers scored three goals in the first half and fought off a surging Lions team in the second half for a well-earned win. Mereasa Brownlie opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a header that snuck past Lions goalkeeper Sarah Fiorini (Newmarket, Ont.).
Heather Daichendt followed up with an open-net goal three minutes later, and Sara Kox put the Lancers ahead 3-0 in the 21st minute with a deflection off of a corner kick that found the back of the Lions’ net.
The Lions played a strong second half, but it was not enough to overcome the three-goal deficit. The Lions could not solve Lancers goalkeeper Rebecca Singer, who made five saves in the win. With the loss, the Lions fall to 0-2-0 on the season, while the Lancers improve to 1-0-2. The Lions are 3-1-1 in their last five games against the Lancers, so they will be looking for revenge when the two teams meet again on Oct. 24.
Both teams close out their three-game road trips Saturday afternoon (Sept. 18) against the Waterloo Warriors. The women, who are looking for their first win of the season, will lead off at 1pm, followed by the men at 3:15pm. Waterloo’s men’s team is 1-1-0 this season, while their women’s team is 0-1-1.
By Cody Powell, sport writing assistant
Photo credit: Edwin Tam
