Deep into the fall term, the York University Lions are pushing hard toward postseason play. With two teams now in the playoffs and a third hoping for a long-awaited return to the dance, a fun weekend of games looms both on campus and off.

Last week saw the men's tennis team earn a bronze medal at the OUA championships, while both soccer teams clinched at least one home playoff game. While field hockey fell twice to the Toronto Varsity Blues, they still sit comfortably in the OUA playoff race, needing just a tie to over their final two matches to finish in the top four in the conference.

The Lions men's soccer team earned top spot in the OUA West and a bye in the opening round of the playoffs thanks to a dominant 6-1 win over the Brock Badgers. The women's team, meanwhile, also clinched a home playoff game with draws against Western and Brock on the season's final weekend.

The Lions football team took on the Guelph Gryphons under the Friday night lights, falling 33-19 to the now-No. 7 team in the country, giving another top team a tough test. Now, they (almost) control their own destiny in Week 9 as they look to lock down a trip to the OUA playoffs.

Meanwhile, the Lions hockey teams dropped a pair of games each last week, with the women's team falling 3-2 to TMU and 4-0 to Nipissing, while the men's squad dropped a 4-3 overtime decision to Ontario Tech and fell 6-1 to the Ottawa Gee-Gees.

The cross country team participated in the annual Bayfront Open in Hamilton this past Friday, setting seven personal bests in the meet. This was the final race ahead of the OUA championships taking place in North Bay on Oct. 26.

Here's what's going on in the den this week: 

PLAYOFF GAMES

WOMEN'S SOCCER

With the draw against the Western Mustangs on Friday and Laurier and Windsor also playing to a draw, the Lions clinched fourth in the OUA West and the right to host an opening-round playoff match. The only thing standing in their way: a Windsor Lancer team that swept the season series between the two sides, earning 3-1 and 1-0 victories over York. The Lions will gladly trade those two wins for one this week, however, with kickoff slated for 1:00 pm on Saturday from York Lions Stadium.

REGULAR SEASON GAMES 

FOOTBALL

In a year filled with positive steps, the Lions football team has an opportunity Saturday to take the biggest leap of all and earn a ticket to the OUA postseason. Should they beat the McMaster Marauders on Saturday, they are all but assured of earning a spot in the dance. The only scenarios under which the Lions win and still miss the postseason is if Carleton wins over the No. 1-seed Laurier Golden Hawks OR if Carleton loses to Laurier AND Ottawa loses to Toronto, meaning if York wins only one of Carleton or Ottawa loses, York will be the No. 7 seed. In the event of a four-way tie at 3-5 between York, Carleton, Ottawa and McMaster, York would make the postseason as the No. 7 seed. This all matters only if the Lions beat McMaster in the season finale; there is no scenario where the Lions make the postseason at 2-6. Kickoff from Hamilton's Ron Joyce Stadium is set for 1:00 pm.

FIELD HOCKEY

The Lions field hockey team will look to close its season on a high note headed into the OUA final four with a pair of games against the Queen's Gaels this weekend. There is still a mathematical shot that the Lions will host that championship, but for that to happen, they will need to both its remaining games to a McGill team without a win in seven years. The Lions will celebrate senior day on Saturday, with the game slated to start at 1:00 pm, before the teams reacquaint themselves at the same time on Sunday in Kingston.

WOMEN'S HOCKEY

The Lions, at 0-2, are not off to the start they hoped to jump out to following the season's opening weekend. However, being that opening weekend just passed us by, there is plenty of time for the Lions to right the ship. They will look to do that Sunday when they play host to the TMU Bold at Canlan Ice Sports in a rematch of the season opener. The Lions will seek to avenge a heartbreaking loss to their downtown rivals where they surrendered the winning goal in the final seconds. Puck drop is at 2:00 pm. You can purchase your tickets here and stream on OUA TV.

NON-CONFERENCE GAMES 

Friday, Oct. 18

MBB: York vs. Ottawa – 8:00 pm (Carleton Laughton-House Tournament)

Saturday, Oct. 19

MBB: York vs. Concordia – 5:00 pm (Carleton Laughton-House Tournament)

MHKY: York at Western Michigan – 6:00 pm (Kalamazoo, Mich.

Sunday, Oct. 20

MBB: York vs. UNB – 12:00 pm (Carleton Laughton-House Tournament)