The two-time defending champion York University Lions field hockey team will continue its quest for a third straight banner on Saturday after defeating the Western Mustangs by a score of 3-0 in the OUA quarter-finals on Friday in Guelph, Ont.
 
The Lions were favoured to win after defeating the Mustangs in two games in the regular season by a combined score of 12-2, but the game got off to a slow start and the Lions were unable to find the back of the net in the first half.
 
It didn't take long for that trend to reverse in the second half. Just two minutes in, rookie Alyssa Brooks picked the perfect time for her first career goal, getting the ball behind Western goalkeeper Sarah Hunter for a 1-0 advantage.
 
Seven minutes later the Lions extended their lead on a goal by another rookie, Lexi Hannah, to make it 2-0. Third-year defender and OUA all-star Frankie St. Louis rounded out the scoring in the 56^th minute.

"We have to give Western credit, as they came with a lot of intensity to begin the game with and they gave us a hard time in the first half," said Lions head coach Zeeshan Minhas. "Our girls showed good composure in the second-half though and in the end we were able to pull through."
 
Goalkeeper Alycia Gray made four saves for the win, while Hunter made nine saves on the 12 shots she faced from the Lions.
 
The Lions will face the winner of the day's last quarter-final, either the second-seeded Toronto Varsity Blues or the seventh-seeded McGill Martlets, in the semifinals on Saturday. The opponent and match time are to be determined.