The York University Lions men's soccer team was well represented in this year's crop of OUA award winners, which were announced by the conference on Thursday.

Most notably, midfielder Christian Zeppieri was named both OUA West MVP and a first-team all-star. Zeppieri, a first-year accounting major, scored four times and finished second on the team in goals. Three of his four goals either tied a match or gave the Lions the lead. The Maple, Ont. native becomes the third consecutive Lion to win the MVP award, joining Soji Olatoye in 2022 and Dieu Merci Yuma in 2021. Zeppieri is also the first rookie to win the award since Jonathan Lao in 2013.

Meanwhile, Tyler Attardo joins Zepperi as a first-team all-star. Attardo, a first-year social work major, had a rookie season for the ages. His six goals paced the team, and included a hat-trick in the Lions 3-1 win over the Waterloo Warriors on Sept. 7. He then punctuated his outstanding regular season by scoring both goals in the Lions 2-1 extra-time OUA quarter-final win over the Western Mustangs.

Finally, defender Kelvin Ramirez was nominated as a second-team all-star. Ramirez, a fourth-year psychology major, was an integral part of the Lions back third. Despite being in his first year as a Lion after transferring from Robert Morris University in the NCAA, Ramirez provided a solid veteran presence on defence for the Lions, and was a mainstay in the starting 11, starting every game this season for head coach Carmine Isacco.