In sports, they say it's not how you start, it's how you finish.
 
The accuracy of that sentiment was on full display Friday night as the York University Lions women's soccer team travelled to Guelph to play the front-end of a weekend home and home series with the Gryphons. The Lions looked to improve to 5-0 on the season after four straight clean-sheet victories to open 2022.
 
HOW  IT HAPPENED

• The Lions got on the board first, early in the match. Veteran midfielder Jotum Chouhan potted her first goal of the season in the 5th minute to stake her club to a quick 1-0 lead.
• The home side found the equalizer in the 20th minute as striker Oliva Brown found the back of the net for the fourth time this year, evening the score at 1-1.
• York re-took the lead just five minutes later as rookie Nia Fleming-Thompson continued her torrid start to her OUA career with her team-leading 3rd of the year to make it 2-1
• Early in the second half, the Lions extended their lead courtesy of an unlikely source. 3rd-year midfielder Joselyn Gagliardi put home just her second career OUA goal, and first since 2019, to make iti 3-1 Lions
• Here's where that old adage begins to rear its ugly head. With under six minutes left in regulation, Christine Gomes cut York's lead in half with her 3rd of the season to push the score to 3-2.
• Then, in the 3rd minute of stoppage time, Sami Falkenstein brought the Gryphons level with her 2nd of 2022, securing a 3-3 draw and a point for the Gryphons.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Lions won't have much time to dwell on this one. They look to bounce back Sunday, Sept. 25 when the Lions and Gryphons meet again, this time at York Lions Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 pm.