Dieu Merci Yuma's three goals propelled the No. 4 York University Lions men's soccer team to a convincing 5-0 win on the road at RMC Thursday.
York wasted no time getting goals on the board – all five of their tallies came in the game's first half.
The win, which improves York's record to 2-1, catapults them above .500 for the first time this season and pulls them into a tie for second in the OUA east division standings with Trent and Queen's.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- York's scoring came early and often in this contest, showcasing a high degree of offence in the game's opening minutes. Just days after being named York's male athlete of the week for the period ending Oct. 3, Yuma opened the very next game with back-to-back goals one minute apart. York led the game 2-0 just two minutes in. Soji Olatoye tallied an assist.
- Agostino Principato got on the board for the first time of the season in the 19th minute, making the score 3-0 early in the contest.
- Scoring in bunches proved to be a theme for York on Thursday night. They made it 4-0 just six minutes later on a goal from Emmanuel Zambazis.
- Yuma put an exclamation mark on the first half with a milestone in the 45th minute; his hat trick goal made it 5-0. Olatoye grabbed his second assist of the match on the Yuma marker.
- The second half would not feature as much fire power, with the Lions and Paladins both not registering a goal.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
- Yuma is shaping up to be one of the more dynamic scorers in the OUA with his current pace. His three goals tonight has made it five on the season thus far in just three games, putting him in second in the OUA in goals. He's only behind McMaster's Dusan Kovacevic for the conference lead (10).
LOOKING AHEAD
York and RMC will play once more this weekend, wrapping up their home-and-home at York's Alumni Field this Saturday at 3 p.m. This game, along with the women's contest against RMC, was subjected to a venue change earlier this week – it was originally scheduled for the same start time at York Lions Stadium.
