The York University Lions women's rugby team nearly gave up a big lead but held on down the stretch to defeat the Toronto Varsity Blues 32-21 in their OUA consolation semifinal match at Alumni Field on Saturday night.
 
With the win, the Lions have advanced to the OUA consolation final and can move into the upper Shiels Division with a win in their last match of the season.
 
Natasha Naismith dominated play throughout the game, accounting for 17 of the Lions' 32 points. She had two tries, two conversions and a penalty goal in the win.
 
The Lions built a 22-0 lead in the first half before the Varsity Blues came storming back to score 21 unanswered points and narrow the gap to just a single point. But six minutes after Toronto's last point went on the board, Brooke Jensen scored a try for some insurance points, and Naismith rounded out the scoring three minutes from the final whistle with her second try of the contest.
 
The Lions started out strong opened the scoring 13 minutes in on a try by Michela Stratton to make it 5-0. Six minutes later they doubled their lead to 10-0 when Naismith found the end zone, and she also kicked the conversion to increase the score to 12-0.
 
Naismith added another three points on a penalty goal 29 minutes into the half, and then a try by Chanelle Lindegaard and another Naismith conversion gave the Lions a 22-0 lead.
 
It was then the Varsity Blues turned it on, and for the next 30 minutes they controlled play. Laura Van Dyke, Nicole Butkovic and reigning OUA athlete of the week Khadi Dako each scored a try and Sara Canini kicked three conversions to put a scare into the home team, but the higher seeded Lions found their groove again and pulled ahead late.
 
As the highest seed remaining in the consolation bracket, the Lions will host the final next Saturday at Alumni Field and will host the Trent Excalibur, a squad they defeated 17-7 in the regular season. The game will begin at 1pm.