The York University Lions men's hockey team was defeated 2-1 by the Brock Badgers at Canlan Ice Sports on Friday night.
 
The first period started scoreless but action-packed. Both teams came close to cracking the scoreboard. In the opening minutes of the game, Benjamin Evanish had a great shot on net, but Badgers goalie Mario Cavaliere saved the shot. The Lions did not let up as they continued to attack the net with another shot from defenceman David D'Agostino but saved again by Cavaliere. It was then the Badgers turn as they returned with a powerful shot on net from Ethan Spaxman, but Saskatoon native Mack Shields skillfully saved the attempt.
 
The Badgers started to put pressure on the Lions, but the first period ended with 0-0.
 
In the second period, the intensity started to pick up but disappointingly not in the Lions' favour. Badger Brayden Stortz had a strong shot on net that Shields miraculously saved. Later on, around the 15-minute mark of the period, the Badgers found themselves on a two-on-one player advantage with an attempt to dangle the goalie. Fortunately, Shields once again came through with a save.
 
The Lions gained an offensive push as they earned a power play. Toronto native Peter De Coppi had a fantastic shot on net that barely went wide, followed by another shot from Brandon Yeamans. But the Badgers came back at full tilt and cracked the scoreboard with a goal from Ryan Burton, assisted by Frank Pucci and Jordan Sambrook at 18:35 to finish the period and lead the Lions 1-0.
 
In the third, the Lions came back and played strong defence for the majority of the period, preventing the Badgers from adding another goal. In a last-ditch attempt to tie the game, Shields was pulled off the ice to give the Lions the extra man advantage, but to no avail. The Badgers sealed the Lions fate with an empty netter from Connor Brown assisted by Cosimo Fontana and Connor Walters at 18:07.
 
In the last 30 seconds of the game, the Lions finally got a goal on the board from Red Deer, Alta., native Scott Feser on a power play, assisted by Jeremy Lucchini and Brendan Browne to end the game, but they ran out of time before finding the equalizer.
 
The Lions will play their final home game of 2019 tomorrow against the Waterloo Warriors at 7:15p, and aim to get back into the win column.