The No. 9 nationally ranked York University Lions women's soccer team upset the No. 1 and previously undefeated Ottawa Gee-Gees 3-2 in extra time at Gee-Gees Field in the OUA Final Four semifinals on Friday night.
With the win the Lions advance to their first OUA final in a decade, last capturing an OUA banner in 2009, as well as clinching one of two berths at next week's U SPORTS championships in Victoria.
The intense match-up needed more than 90 minutes with three goals coming in the extra frame, ultimately favouring the Lions.
Ten minutes into the first half of extra time, newly named OUA West first-team all-star
Kalifornia Mitchell found herself open room and launched a shot 35-yards out that dipped just past Gee-Gees keeper Margot Shore, putting the Lions up 2-1.
With eight minutes left in the second half of extra time, Ottawa knotted the score at two apiece after OUA East MVP Mikayla Morton was able to stay onside and slot her shot past Lions keeper
Danitza Indacochea. It didn't take long for the Lions to respond. In the 115
th minute, York captain
Farkhunda Muhtaj launched a corner kick that fell to defender
Jessica Lush. Rushing through the Ottawa defence, Lush desperately delivered a pass to rookie forward
Marissa Castellano who didn't fail to slot home the game winner with four minutes left on the clock.
Ottawa's efforts in the final minutes were not enough as the Lions upset the hosts after 120 minutes.
The defending OUA champions got off to an early start 10 minutes into the match after Gee-gees midfielder Katherine Bearne put the home team up by one off a free-kick taken 20 yards away from net. Ottawa put the pressure on the visiting Lions, not allowing them to get past their own half for much of the frame. But the Lions found their footing late in the frame;
Jotam Chouhan launched a free-kick that soared over the Gee-gees defence, landing almost perfectly into Ottawa's 18-yard box. Lions leading scorer
Kiyani Johnson pounced on the ball and slotted it home like she's done all season, tying the game at 1-1.
The Lions are the first team to defeat the Gee-Gees this season, with Ottawa not dropping a game in their last 26 OUA contests – a record that covers the 2018 regular season and playoffs.
As the first team to advance to the final, the Lions will have to wait for the completion of the second semifinal between the No. 7 Western Mustangs and the Toronto Varsity Blues to determine their foe in the final.
