The York University Lions women's soccer team suffered a 5-2 defeat at home to the Western Mustangs in their first game of the 2018 season.
 
The game opened with both teams having chances in the first 20 minutes. Lions midfielder Farkhunda Muhtaj shot wide at the 14-minute mark, followed by a great scoring chance by Western where Lions starting goalie Tamara Orlando came out of the net to stop the Mustangs in close.
 
Western opened the scoring in the 27^th minute when midfielder Andrea Fraser tapped in a loose ball after a diving save by Orlando. They made it 2-0 just three minutes later after a rush by Julia Crnjac down the left side found the back of the net. Crnjac had two more great scoring chances before the first half came to end, with Orlando standing tall on the first and the second sailing over the net after a nice Western passing play. The Mustangs scored two quick goals before the end of the first half, both by Giulia Geraci in the 41^st and 42^nd minute marks respectively.
 
Lions third-year forward Kendra Saxton had the best chance of the half for the Lions, after Mustangs goalie Megan Gerardi left the net to chase after a loose ball. Saxton corralled the ball but rolled a shot from outside the box just wide before the first half came to close with the Mustangs ahead 4-0.   
 
The Lions got on the board early in the second half when first-year midfielder Kalifornia Mitchell scored the first goal of her OUA career in the 52^nd minute. After a Christina Morelli corner kick found its way near the Western goal, Sia Papadopolous picked up a loose ball and tapped it forward to Mitchell who found the back of the Western net.
 
The Lions cut the Mustangs lead in half in the 63^rd minute when Saxton hammered home shot off following a Lions free kick deep in the Western end. The home team kept the pressure on throughout the second half securing good several good chances but Western pulled back ahead by three on a goal by Kendra Marlatt in the 75^th minute to cap off the scoring.
 
Lions goalies Orlando and Courtney Davis combined to make seven saves in the loss.
 
The Lions will aim for their first win of the season on Sunday when they host the Windsor Lancers at Alumni Field for game two of the 2018 season. The game is set for 6:30pm.