The York University Lions men's soccer team opened the U SPORTS national championship on Thursday evening in Sydney, N.S., looking to earn a chance at a national medal since striking gold on home turf in 2015.

The only thing standing in their way: the No. 1 seed and Canada West champions, the Mount Royal Cougars, the stingiest side in the country, having allowed only seven goals all season long. The Lions, meanwhile, only conceded 10 goals this season, setting up a match with all the makings of a defensive battle.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The early portion of this one lived up to that bill, with very little being generated by either side.
• The best chance of opening half for the Lions came in the 12th minute off a long ball from the back up to Tyler Attardo, who displayed some fancy footwork to settle the ball down and find Isaac Bradbury flanking him on the left. Bradbury got a solid shot off, but Cougars keeper Aidan Dumolin made the stop and keep the game level.
• The Cougars dominated possession in the first half, suffocating York defensively. However, the Lions did the same, with that possession generating next to nothing in terms of quality chances for Mount Royal. The half ended in a scoreless draw.
• The second half was a reversal of the first in terms of possession time, as the Lions dictated much of the terms in the second half. However, like the Cougars in the first 45 minutes, they were unable to translate that possession into tangible offence. Beyond the hour mark, still nothing had been decided on the scoreboard. 
• The Lions nearly took the lead in the 77th minute of a corner from OUA MVP and since-selected U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian Christian Zeppieri. His ball into the box was headed on by Jaytin Pabla, but Dumolin made a diving save to keep the Lions off the board.
• Despite continuing to dominate on the ball control front, the Lions failed to generate anything else offensively.
• Then, with extra time appearing inevitable, it was the Cougars who capitalized off their best chance of the half. In the 90th minute, a corner from Finn Marshall was headed home by Miguel de Rocha, all but assuring a Mount Royal victory.
• The Lions had one more late chance on a ball into the box, but the play was whistled down after Pabla's hand got a touch on the ball, ending their hopes for extra time and solidifying a 1-0 final.

LOOKING AHEAD:

The Lions will now have to regroup, and do so in short rest, as they will play in the second consolation game on Friday against the UQTR Patriotes of the RSEQ. Should they win that game, they will compete in Saturday's fifth-place match against the winner of the Carleton vs. St. FX consolation match.