Saturday night's OUA men's soccer championship was one of the most intriguing matchups in recent memory. It pitted a York University Lions team making its 10th appearance in the last 11 OUA title games against an Ontario Tech Ridgebacks side making its first appearance in the conference's crown jewel.
Though no strangers to the final game on the OUA calendar, the Lions were looking for their first title in six years, as they aimed to put championship-game losses to Carleton (2019, 2023), and Guelph (2021) in the rear-view mirror.
Ontario Tech, meanwhile, knew from day one of training camp they would be one of the eight participants at the U SPORTS championships as the hosts. After what was a rather pedestrian 6-4-2 regular season, the Ridgebacks turned it in to high gear at the season's most critical juncture. They scored nine goals in their first two playoff games – a 4-1 win over the Nipissing Lakers and a stunning 5-2 victory over the top-seeded Toronto Varsity Blues – before making it past the McMaster Marauders in penalties to earn their spot in the OUA championship for the first time in program history.
As for this one, the visitors made their presence felt early, as Alex Maadanian sent in a cross that found the head of Erion Metaj, who sent one inside the back post past Alessio Carbone to open the scoring for the Ridgebacks in just the eighth minute.
The Ridgebacks added to their lead in stoppage time of the opening half, as Maadanian sent a corner into the box that went off Alexander Irwin right to Metaj, who used his head once again to find the back of the net to give Ontario Tech a 2-0 lead at the break.
The Lions looked to fight back in the second half to avoid dropping their fourth straight OUA championship game appearance. They made their first step back off a corner of their own. OUA West Rookie of the Year Luca Accettola did the honours, and it found Matthew Medeiros who made no mistake to cut the deficit in half.
They continued to make a push for the equalizer, did the Lions – their best chance coming in the latter stages of second-half added time on a corner taken by Ryan Robinson that resulted in a shot toward goal – but were unable to find the tying tally, and the Ridgebacks held on to take the match 2-1 to win their first OUA crown.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Lions now prepare for the U SPORTS national championship which begins Thursday with a full four-game slate on the tuf of Vaso's Field in Oshawa. Stay tuned to yorkulions.ca for updates on the Lions first-round matchup and match time.
