LIONS TOP MUSTANGS, TAKE OVER FIRST IN OUA WEST
In their biggest game of the season, the York University Lions men’s soccer team pulled off a thrilling second half comeback to defeat the Western Mustangs 3-2 in front of the home crowd at York Stadium on Sunday (Oct. 17).
With the win, the Lions (11-2-1) take over sole possession of first place in the OUA West division, which previously belonged to the Mustangs (10-1-3).
The match did not start well for the Lions, who found themselves down by two goals after the first half, but they dusted themselves off in the second and produced a memorable finish.
In the first half, the Lions dominated possession and generated several scoring chances, but it was the Mustangs who found the scoresheet first.
Mustangs’ defenceman Vince Caminiti (London, Ont.) gave his squad the lead in the 11th minute on a blast from just outside the18-yard box that zipped past Lions goalkeeper Sotiri Varlokostas (Toronto) and found the top-right corner of the net.
Caminiti continued to demonstrate his scoring touch in the 43rd minute with his second goal of the game, another long-distance strike similar to his first that gave the Mustangs a two-goal cushion heading into the half.
The Lions deserved a better result from the first half, but the Mustangs defence was solid, preventing the Lions from getting any clean looks at their goal. Striker Adrian Pena (Woodbridge, Ont.) had the best scoring opportunity for the Lions on a free-kick from just outside the Mustangs’ 18-yard box, but his shot struck Mustangs’ goalkeeper Andrew Murdoch (Burlington, Ont.) harmlessly in the chest.
Fourth-year midfielder Dominic Antonini (Winnipeg) was the centrepiece of the Lions offence in the first half. He created many scoring chances off the left flank, which is where the Lions focused their attack for most of the half. Antonini’s reward for his strong play did not come until later in the match.
In the second half, the Lions stormed out of the gate desperate to get back into the game, and it didn’t take them very long. They picked up where they left off in the first, pushing the ball forward and dominating possession, and they were rewarded with an early goal.
In the 51st minute, fourth-year forward Moreno Alberti (Winnipeg) put home a bending strike that beat Murdoch high, just under the crossbar. Pena started the rush down the middle of the pitch and sent the Mustangs defence into a scramble before the ball finally found Alberti’s boot.
After the goal, the Lions continued to press in search of an equalizer, which they found only moments later in the 54th minute. Midfielder Selvin Lammie (Toronto) made a great effort to keep the ball in-bounds beside the Mustangs’ goal and made a great pass out front to Antonini who made no mistake, burying the ball deep into the goal.
With the game tied, the Mustangs substituted a striker for a defenceman, showing that they wanted to protect their undefeated season, and the Lions went for the kill.
In the 66th minute, rookie forward Alon Badat (Thornhill, Ont.) forced his way through the Mustangs’ defence and fired a shot just inside if Murdoch’s right post to give the Lions the 3-2 lead.
Following the go-ahead goal, play got heated as the Mustangs felt their undefeated season slipping away. Niko Mavrikos (Victoria, B.C.) and Branko Majstorovic (Mississauga, Ont.) got into a shoving match that resulted in Mavrikos throwing a punch and Lammie inserting himself into the scrum to defend his teammate. As a result, Mavrikos and Lammie were both ejected from the game with straight red cards.
Following the rough stuff, the energy level of both teams went through the floor as the Lions sat back and protected their lead effectively, sending only one striker forward and leaving the rest of the team to defend in the backfield.
The Mustangs, however, made things interesting in injury time with a couple of great scoring chances, but Varlokostas shut the door like he has done all season and preserved the win.
The Lions play their final two games of the season at home next weekend. On Saturday (Oct. 23), they will take on the Guelph Gryphons at 3:15pm, and on Sunday (Oct. 24), they will meet the Windsor Lancers, also at 3:15pm.
By Cody Powell, sport writing assistant
