The No. 1 nationally-ranked York University Lions men's soccer team played in its final regular season game on Sunday (Oct. 23) against the Western Mustangs, earning a 3-1 victory at Alumni Field to finish the season undefeated.
 
The match also served as the final regular season game for many of York's key veterans that have helped them attain the past two CIS championships.
 
The Lions had already clinched first place in the OUA West Division last weekend and ended with a six-point cushion on the rest of the field at 14-0-2 for 44 points. The Mustangs finished in fifth place with the loss at 5-6-5.
 
In the fifth minute the Mustangs looked like they were about to score when the Western striker worked his way past attacking York goalkeeper Daniel Gosciniak (Mississauga, Ont.). Three York defenders then filled in the open space in front of the net and headed the shot attempt out of bounds to preserve the tie.
 
The Lions broke the silence in the 16^th minute when Steve Kloutsouniotis (Markham, Ont.) gained control of a cross inside of the 18-yard box and chipped the ball in before the keeper could react.
 
Early in the second half Western striker Lucas Ventura tied up the game at 1-1 when he sped past Gosciniak's aggressive challenge outside of the box.
 
It was a long time after Western's goal before either team would reach the net again. In the 78^th minute York would receive the goal that would push the Lions past the Mustangs for the win. Sergiu Anton (Brampton, Ont.) drove the ball down the field and seemed like he was about to be forced out of bounds, giving Western the goal kick. Instead, Anton stopped on a dime, sending the ball across the goalkeeper's face from left to right where Joe Lepera (Oakville, Ont.) charged in to receive the pass and tap the ball in the net behind the goalie's back.
 
Lepera was not finished there as he scored again just minutes later. In the 84^th minute a high arching cross floated its way inside of the 18-yard box where Lepera levitated above three Mustangs to head in the third and final goal of the match.
 
The Lions' first-place finish earned them a bye in the first round of the playoffs and they will host an OUA quarter-final game on Sunday (Oct. 30) at Alumni Field at 4pm. The opponent will be determined after the first round on Wednesday.