The York University Lions soccer teams hit the road on Sunday night to face the Waterloo Warriors in their first road matches of the season. The men's team looked to build on their momentum following a dramatic, come-from-behind 2-2 draw with Waterloo, while the women's team aimed to sweep the weekend after securing their first win of the season against the Warriors in their last encounter.
Men's Match:
The Lions dominated early possession, pressing Waterloo's defence throughout the half. York had several promising opportunities, starting with Ryan Robinson's corner kick that set up a header by Matthew Medeiros, saved by Waterloo's goalie Samuel Schafer in the 18th minute. York's offensive pressure continued with shots from Yigal Bruk, Pedro Aparicio, and Christian Zeppieri, all of which were denied by Schafer. Despite York's numerous chances, they entered halftime locked in a scoreless stalemate, looking to break through in the second half.
York came out strong in the second half, and after a series of substitutions, Zeppieri finally broke through in the 67th minute, netting York's first goal and giving the Lions a 1-0 lead. Waterloo struggled to find opportunities, with York maintaining control of the match. Schafer made multiple saves for Waterloo in the second half, on chances from Zeppieri and Justin Hendricks. Despite some fouls and a couple of yellow cards from Luca Accettola and in the 57th minute and Medeiros in the 60th, York's defense held firm, securing the 1-0 victory as the Lions improve to 3-0-1 on the young season.
Overall, York out-shot Waterloo 17-1. Schafer kept his team in the game, stopping 13 of the 14 shots on target, while the lone Warriors shot did not reach goal.
Women's Match:
The Lions women's team looked to build off a commanding 2-0 clean sheet over the Warriors on Friday night in the rematch Sunday evening at Warrior Field against the
The match began with both teams battling hard for control, but York quickly established themselves early. The Lions pressed the Warriors defense throughout the first half, creating multiple scoring opportunities. Despite their efforts, including a great chance by transfer Breanne Desa that hit the post, York could not find the back of the net before halftime.
The second half saw York increase their offensive pressure. In the 77th minute, Sabrina Fabiano broke the deadlock with a well-placed shot, marking her second goal of the season. Just a minute later, York's reigning female athlete of the week, Nia Fleming-Thompson, added to their lead with a precise strike, making it 2-0. The Lions' added a third marker in stoppage time courtesy of Alexandra Quaidoo, sealing the match, and the weekend sweep, with a 3-0 victory for York's second straight win.
Goalkeeper Ava Jones recorded a clean sheet, stopping both Waterloo shots on target, as Waterloo struggled to penetrate York's defence, while Waterloo goalie Natalie Mouradian stopped five of the eight shots she faced.
LOOKING AHEAD:
Both Lions teams are set to hit the road again, traveling to Guelph to face the Gryphons on September 13, 2024. The women's match is scheduled for 6:00 pm, while the men kickoff at 8:15 pm
