The York University Lions field hockey team defeated the Waterloo Warriors by a score of 2-0 in their OUA quarter-final match on Friday afternoon (Oct. 24) at the Cassie Campbell Community Centre.
The win propelled the fifth-seeded Lions into the semifinals for the first time since 2009, where they will meet the first-place and undefeated Toronto Varsity Blues.
The Lions had a goal waved off late in the first half, but minutes later they made no mistake as rookie forward
Claire Oelmann (Scarborough, Ont.) found the back of the net in the 32
nd minute to give the Lions a 1-0 lead. It was the first goal they scored against Waterloo this year after a pair of 1-0 losses in the regular season.
Mid-way through the second half the Lions added to their lead with a goal by fellow rookie forward
Michelle Per (Port Moody, B.C.), who led the Lions in regular-season scoring with four goals.
The Lions dominated play for much of the game and continued to do so even after building the two-goal lead. Waterloo pulled its goalie down the stretch to try and generate more of an offensive attack, but the Warriors were unable to capitalize.
The Lions will battle with the Blues for a spot in the championship final beginning at 12pm at the Cassie Campbell Community Centre. The winner will face the winner from the other semifinal, featuring the Guelph Gryphons and Dalhousie Tigers, in the final at noon on Sunday, while the loser will play for bronze at 10am.
