After an outstanding regular season that saw them go undefeated with a 13-0-3 record, six members of the York University Lions men's soccer team were recognized by Ontario University Athletics (OUA) on Thursday as OUA West all-stars.
 
Leading the way for the Lions as OUA West first-team all-stars are defencemen Daniel Gogarty and Josh Kiselyov, midfielder Jorgo Nika, and striker Omar Marzouk. Midfielder Emmanuel Zambazis and Cristian Cavallini were also named as OUA West second-team all-stars.
 
Gogarty, a fifth-year business economics major, earns first-team all-star honours for the third consecutive year. The fifth-year defender has once again anchored the Lions defence this season, which allowed a division-low 12 goals on the season. Gogarty has had another spectacular year for the Lions, starting 15 games from the centre back position and consistently limiting opposition scoring chances and jump starting the Lions offence with well-placed clears to the forward group.
 
Kiselyov, a third-year Economics student, joins his defence partner Gogarty on the all-star team with his first OUA post-season award. Kiselyov started all 16 regular season games for the Lions this season, while contributing five shots and two shots on goal. The left-back has been an integral part of the Lions play this season, using his physicality and high soccer IQ to shut down opposing forwards and help the squad to six shutouts on the season.
 
Nika is another first-time OUA all-star for the Lions. The fourth-year business and society major is in his first season with the Lions after playing professionally in Germany for a number of years. Nika had four goals and, 13 shots, eight shots on goal and one game-winning goal on the season and was named York's male athlete of the week for the period ending Oct. 15.
 
Marzouk, a second-year kinesiology and health science major, has burst onto the OUA scene this year with 14 goals in 15 games. Marzouk also ahd four-game winning goals on the season and ranked second in the OUA in goals. He's been a consistent source of offence for the team all year, scoring goals in 11 of the team's regular season games, and also notched two goals and one assist in the team's OUA quarterfinal win over the Waterloo Warriors last weekend.
 
Zambazis, a first-year student who came to York after playing professionally in Greece, had an outstanding freshman season with the Lions in the midfield. Zambazis was a late addition to the team at the end of training camp, and stepped into a starting role on the team right away. He brought an elite and versatile skill set to the lineup and contributed one goal and two assists on the season
 
Cavallini, the OUA West Division MVP last season, picks up another awards honours for his trophy case this season with the second-team recognition. The senior midfielder placed second on the Lions with eight goals on the year to go along with 32 shots and 20 shots on goal. Cavallini clinched the Lions victory over the Waterloo Warriors in the OUA quarterfinals last week with a highlight-reel goal to make the game 3-0.
 
OUA West Major Award Winners
Most Valuable Player – Jace Kostopolous, Guelph
Rookie of the Year – Sebastian Gurrieri, Waterloo
Coach of the Year – Mark Worton, Waterloo
Community Service Award – Yordan Stoyanov, McMaster
 
OUA West First-team All-stars
GK – Kody Thomson, Western
D – Daniel Gogarty, York
D – Tahrik Rodrigues, Laurier
D – Josh Kiselyov, York
D – Willem Grant, Guelph
M – Yunus Mollayev, McMaster
M – Jorgo Nika, York
M – Anand Sergeant, McMaster
M – Ryan Vyrostko, Guelph
S – Omar Marzouk, York
S – Jace Kotsopoulos, Guelph
 
OUA West Second-team All-stars
GK – Tristan Joyce, McMaster
D – Jon Hodge, Western
D – Anton Buretic, McMaster
D – Conor O'Callaghan, Guelph
D – Cheikh Tchouambou, McMaster
M – Jeremy Arnold, Western
M – Cristian Cavallini, York
M – Emmanuel Zambazis, York
M – Atchu Siva, Guelph
S – Dusan Kovacevic, McMaster
S – Sebastian Gurrieri, Waterloo