York University Lions striker Dieu Merci Yuma was named the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) East Division's player of the year and a first-team all-star on Thursday.
 
He was one of two Lions to receive a major award and one of five to earn all-star honours for the season. Lions head coach Carmine Isacco was named the coach of the year, while midfielders Soji Olatoye and Emmanuel Zambazis, defender Jadon Vilfort and goalkeeper George Tzimas joined Yuma on the all-star team.
 
Yuma is the ninth Lion to earn the division's MVP award and the first since 2017. He also earned a place on the all-star team for the second straight season. The fourth-year player from Toronto was tremendous on the field, tying for the OUA lead with 12 goals in nine games and adding five assists. He tied for the league lead with three game-winning goals and was also first in the OUA in shots on goal (28) and total shots (35).
 
Isacco earned the coach of the year award for the seventh time in his 14 seasons at the helm of the Lions. He has also won the women's coach of the year award twice. This season, he guided the Lions to their 14^th straight division title and an 8-1-1 record, going undefeated after a season-opening loss to Ontario Tech. The highlight was a win and a draw against rival Carleton, who at the time were higher in the national rankings. The Lions ascended as high as No. 1 in the country and have advanced to the OUA final for the eighth straight year.
 
In addition to Yuma, Zambazis is also an all-star for the second time after earning a place on the second team in 2018 as a rookie. This year, the third-year Toronto native started nine games and scored one goal and one assist while providing solid play in the midfield.
 
Olatoye, Tzimas and Vilfort all received all-star recognition for the first time.
 
Olatoye, a fourth-year player from Brampton, Ont., started seven games and finished third in team scoring with five goals and four assists. Three of his five goals were for game winners, including one in the big victory over the Ravens and the lone tally in a season-ending win over Queen's. He has also been tremendous through two playoff games with a goal and two assists in two games.
 
Tzimas has been with the Lions for four seasons but became the regular starter in net this year. The Vaughan, Ont., native started nine games and allowed four goals while making 33 saves, including 13 in the draw with the Ravens. He led the OUA in save percentage (.892) and was second in the conference with a 0.46 goals against average.
 
Vilfort, a second-year defender from Toronto, played a tremendous lockdown role for the Lions in the eight games that he started, helping the team allow just six goals in 10 games this season, the second-lowest mark in the OUA.
 
The Lions will battle for their sixth OUA title in eight years on Saturday when they head west to Guelph, Ont., to face the Gryphons in a rematch of the 2016 final. Kick-off is set for 1pm.
 
OUA East Major Award Winners
Player of the Year – Dieu Merci Yuma, York
Rookie of the Year – Matteo de Brienne, Carleton
Community Service Award – Nathaniel Sadler, Ontario Tech
Coach of the Year – Carmine Isacco, York
 
OUA East All-stars
G – Kyle Potter, Carleton
G – George Tzimas, York
D – Jacob Begley, Ontario Tech
D – Raphael Garcia, Carleton
D – Tareq Hamad, Carleton
D – Jadon Vilfort, York
M – Scott Mazzotta, Carleton
M – Soji Olatoye, York
M – Milosh Stojanovic, Queen's
M – Emmanuel Zambazis, York
S – Gabriel Bitar, Carleton
S – Dieu Merci Yuma, York