The York University Lions hit the road on Thursday night, taking on the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks in another mid-week affair, this being the fourth straight Thursday with the Lions on the OUA docket. The Lions were looking to win a fourth straight game and split the season series with the Ridgebacks after winning in a shootout in Oshawa on Nov. 2. 

The game remained scoreless through the opening frame, with both teams trading chances. York generated eight shots in the first period – including a pair of breakaways, one in the period's final seconds – but couldn't solve Ridgebacks goaltender William Desmarais. Carter Serhyenko, making a fourth straight start, turned aside all 11 shots he faced. 

Ontario Tech ramped up its offensive pressure in the second, outshooting York 16-9 and eventually breaking the deadlock at 14:25. Gabriel Bernier opened the scoring after gloving down a puck in the slot off a broken play and beating Serhyenko for his 10th. An assist was credited to Justin Svenson on the play that gave the Ridgebacks a 1-0 lead through 40. 

York battled hard in the final frame, firing 16 shots on goal, but Desmarais remained sharp. At 16:38 of the third, Ontario Tech doubled their lead when Braiden Koran found the back of the net after a Svenson centring pass eventually ended up on his stick in the slot. He made no mistake despite a desperation effort from the Lions netminder, and his 5th of the campaign gave Ontario Tech the insurance goal in a 2-0 victory. 

Serhyenko was fantastic in goal once again for York, making 39 saves on 41 shots for the visitors. Desmarais, meanwhile, turned aside all 33 shots he faced for the shutout in the Ridgebacks 2-0 win. 

Both teams had multiple power-play opportunities, but neither converted; York went 0-for-4, while Ontario Tech went 0-for-5. 

LOOKING AHEAD: 

With the loss, the Lions drop to 6-13-4 on the season as they return to Toronto for a quick turnaround against the TMU Bold Friday night at the Mattamy Athletic Centre. Puck drops at 6:15 pm.