While a loss to the Brock Badgers on Friday night would have eliminated the York University Lions women's soccer team from playoff contention, a late tally allowed the Lions to secure a crucial 1-1 draw against the host Badgers in St. Catharines. 

Dylana Makarowski's 86th-minute marker kept playoff hopes alive for the Lions, providing them a pivotal point. York continues to stand 7th in the OUA West rankings with 11 points, a point shy of Brock.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Lions had the game's first chance, as Giuliana Paolella fired the opening shot on goal, but Brock goalkeeper Emma Hendrie made a solid save, denying York a potential early advantage.
• The Badgers broke the ice, when striker Jenna Parris found the back of the net off a Sabrina Bisante assist, putting the Badgers up 1-0, a lead they maintained at the break.
• The second half played out much the first, as both teams had several quality looks at goal.
• It was in the 86th, with playoff hopes fading for York, when Makarowski found a broke through the Brock defence, netting a game-tying goal to level the score at 1-1.
• The final minutes ticked off the clock with the score unchanged, as Makarowski's goal was the difference in a 1-1 draw.  

LOOKING AHEAD:

The Lions will gear up for their final regular season game that will decide their playoff destiny, when they re-engage with the Brock Badgers for the second leg of the home-and-home series on Sunday, Oct. 22. Wit Friday's draw, the Lions now face a must-win scenario to make the playoffs. A loss or draw means the Lions will miss the postseason for the first time since 2013. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:00 pm.