In a rematch of the last three OUA championships, the York University Lions men's soccer team meets up with another nationally-ranked opponent in the Carleton Ravens for a pair of games this weekend.
 
The Match-up: No. 3 York (5-1) vs. No. 2 Carleton (5-0-1)
 
Game Details
Friday, Oct. 22 @ 6:30pm at Carleton, OUA.tv
Sunday, Oct. 24 @ 3pm at York, OUA.tv
 
Home/Away Records
York – 3-0 at home, 2-1 on the road
Carleton – 2-0-1 at home, 3-0 on the road
 
Current Streak
York – Won 5
Carleton – Tied 1
 
Last Meetings
Carleton and York have been waiting to meet for the duration of the season, both handling the rest of the OUA with relative ease. However, their near-spotless records are likely to do with not playing each other to this point of the season.
 
While this is the first season where the Lions and Ravens are meeting as divisional opponents, they have a rich history of clashes in recent years. The last three OUA finals have featured both York and Carleton – York possessing a 2-1 record in those contests, but Carleton winning the most recent of the matchups.
 
QUICK FACTS
 
York

• In their most recent 4-0 win against Trent, York allowed single-digit shot totals for yet another game. No Lions opponent has recorded 10 shots or more against York this season.
• York's current five-game win streak has featured just two goals against, three positions ascended in the U SPORTS national soccer rankings, and the crowning one-half of the current OUA goal-scoring leaders, forward Dieu Merci Yuma.
• Yuma has 11 goals on the season, tied with McMaster's Dusan Kovacevic. He also leads the conference in shots per gameby a significant margin (4.5), and his closest competitor in that category is another Lion – forward Omar Marzouk, who has 3.8.
• To guarantee themselves a playoff spot, a team needs to finish among the top two in their division, so this weekend is crucial for York's playoff positioning.  

Carleton

• Out of all the teams Carleton will face in 2021, Carleton surely will be one of their greatest challenges. The second-ranked team in the country, Carleton eclipses York in most team stats categories.
• Interestingly, both York and Carleton have struggled to maintain the same level of dominance against the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks, who handed the Ravens their first draw of the season, snapping a five-game win streak on Sunday, Oct. 17 with a 0-0 result.

 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
 
York
 
Dieu Merci Yuma
 
Fourth-year forward … York's top scorer with 11 goals and four assists in six games this season … Tied for OUA lead in scoring with 11 goals, leads the entire conference with 15 points, 4.5 shots per game … Has already eclipsed his point total from 2019 season, where he earned 14 points and was the team's top scorer … Won York male athlete of the week award for the period ending Oct. 3 after recording a goal, an assist and four shots during the Sept. 30 win over Ontario Tech … Also earned male athlete of the week for the period ending Oct. 10 … Former professional player who earned a fourth division championship in Portugal with FC Electrios.
 
Omar Marzouk
 
Fourth-year forward … Breakout portion of season has led to six goals and two assists over his five games played … His 19 shots are fourth in the conference, 3.8 shorts per game are second in the conference … Named York male athlete of the week for the period ending Oct. 17 … Coming off a three-goal performance against RMC the week prior, he added the team's final goal in the 88th minute of a 4-0 victory played in windy, rainy conditions … Fourth-year player made large playoff contributions for the Lions in 2019 … Had one goal in 2019, the second tally in the semifinal win over Toronto, and added an assist at the 2019 national tournament.
 
George Tzimas
 
Third-year goalkeeper … Has not allowed a goal since Sept. 23 when Ontario Tech scored two goals … Recorded eight saves on 10 shots faced to this point of the season … Three of his five wins have been shutouts … Spent one season with the St. Thomas Tommies, posting an undefeated record in nine regular-season games and helping the team finish in second place in the standings and reach the CCAA national tournament.
 
Carleton
 
Gabriel Bitar
 
Fourth-year forward … Team leader in goals, points with four … Bitar finished the 2019 regular season third in the OUA in goals with 13 and added another 5 in the national tournament … Was also named second team all-Canadian and first team OUA all-star during the 2018 campaign. … Was chosen 1st overall by Calvary FC out of Calgary, Alta. in the inaugural Canadian Premier League U SPORTS draft.
 
Scott Mazzotta
 
Fourth-year midifielder … Both his goals are game-winners, putting him second in the OUA in that category … Second on his team in goals … native of Ottawa, Ont.