The York University Lions women's rugby team won their first game of the season Saturday night with a 33-19 victory over the Western Mustangs in their second and final home game of the OUA regular season.
 
After battling for eleven minutes, Megan Pakulis scored the first try of the game, followed by Natasha Naismith adding her first of three conversions to give the Lions a 7-0 lead.
 
The Lions continued to control the play as their second try came in the 24^th minute of play courtesy of Brittany Ediagbonya, while Naismith added her second conversion to increase the score to 14-0. The Mustangs reacted quickly, cutting into the Lions lead in the 38^th minute with a try by Veronica Harrigan and convert by Lexi Smith to bring the score to 14-7 at the half.
 
Western opened up the second half by evening the score at 14-14 with their second try of the game. Naismith put the Lions back on top shortly after, scoring a try and kicking her third conversion through the uprights to give the Lions back the lead.
 
The Mustangs again closed the lead with another try making it 21-19, however Lions rookie Asia Hogan-Rochester responded with the first try of her York Lions career at a key point in the game to give the Lions a 28-19 lead over the Mustangs.
 
A few minutes later, Kiara Maclean made an impressive run and passed the ball off to Michela Stratton who scored the final try of the game in the 79^th minute to put an exclamation point on the win and cap the score at 33-19.
 
The Lions will play again in two weeks as they travel to Guelph, Ont. on Saturday, Sept. 22 to face the Guelph Gryphons. Game time starts at 12pm.