After a stoppage time penalty kick resulted in the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks surprising the No. 7-ranked York Lions in the season-opening contest in Oshawa, Ont. last Thursday, the Lions will not have to wait long to get their rematch. They host Ontario Tech this Thursday at the team's first official home game at York Lions Stadium.
 
The Match-up: No. 7 York (0-1) vs. Ontario Tech (1-0)
 
Game Details
Thursday, Sept. 30 @ 8:15pm, OUA.tv
 
Current Streak
York – Lost 1
Ontario Tech – Won 1
 
Last Meeting
York's aforementioned 2-1 loss to Ontario Tech marked the end of a historic run for coach Carmine Isacco and York men's soccer, in which the program did not lose a regular season game since Aug. 30, 2017. Each game between that date and Thursday's contest versus Ontario Tech resulted in at least a point for the red and white.
 
QUICK FACTS
 
York

• Prior to the loss to Ontario Tech, the Lions had previously strung together a 52-game unbeaten streak against OUA opponents dating back to the 2017 season.
• The momentous run includes two flawless playoff trips leading to back-to-back OUA banners, as well as a victory over the Carleton Ravens in the consolation finals at the U SPORTS Championship in 2017.
• Dieu Merci Yuma had four shots and one goal in the season-opening loss. The 25-year-old was York's top scorer last year and is poised to have similar output in his final year of eligibility.
• Emmanuel Zambazis and Agostino Principato both had a shot each to round our York's offensive output in this contest.
• George Tzimas stopped two of four shots faced for the Lions. The goalkeeper started the season-opening contest after playing in one game during his first OUA season, which was a 10-0 win over Algoma in 2019.

Ontario Tech

• Ontario Tech picked up where they left off in 2019, where they enjoyed a 6-1-1 home record at Vaso's Field in Oshawa. However, that left some to be desired on the road, where the Ridgebacks' record was 2-2-5 in that same season.
• The Ridgebacks finished fourth in 2019's regular season and lost to the eventual champion Carleton Ravens in the quarter-finals of the OUA playoffs.

 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
 
York
 
F Dieu Merci Yuma
 
Fourth-year kinesiology & health science student … Had York's lone goal against Ontario Tech in last contest against this team … Earned OUA West first-team all-star honours in 2019 … Started all 14 games at forward in first season with the Lions … Tied for the team lead in goals (eight) and ranked first in assists (four) and total points (12) … Ranked fourth overall in OUA scoring … Spent multiple seasons in Europe, with FC Hlucin in the Czech Republic, CS Sedan in France, FC Crato and FC Electrios in Portugal.
 
F Michael Thornton
 
Appeared in eight games and started one in first season with the Lions in 2019 … Appeared in 11 matches as a rookie for the Memphis Tigers in the NCAA … Trained with multiple European soccer clubs in his youth, including A.C. Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester City … Spent 2.5 years in Madrid in his teenage years playing at the highest level for his age group.
 
Ontario Tech
 
M Christopher Campoli
 
Scored game winning goal on a penalty kick in stoppage time against York on Sept. 23 … Earned OUA East all-star honours in his rookie season in 2019, scoring six goals and also recording seven assists … Selected by York United FC in the 2021 CPL / U SPORTS draft.