On a cloudy Wednesday night, the York University Lions women's soccer team made the trip down to Hamilton to meet the McMaster Marauders in the first round of the OUA playoffs, looking to go on another deep postseason push.
Last season, the Lions were the four seed in the OUA West and hosted the Windsor Lancers in Round 1. That game ended 1-0 and was the springboard for a playoff run that ended in heartbreak, a last-second loss to Nipissing in the OUA semi-finals, a game which, had they won it, would have punched York's second ticket to the U SPORTS championships in three years.
Twelve months later, the Lions looked to do the same thing, with a slightly different ending. They opened up at Ron Joyce Stadium against the No. 3 seed Marauders, seeking to take the first step toward getting back to Hamilton and the U SPORTS championships, which will be held on that same pitch from Nov. 6–9.
While the path was slightly trickier this time around, York had shown last year that standings didn't tell the full story; the Lions had upset Western, the top team in the West, in last year's quarterfinals. But this time, McMaster's steady form proved decisive.
The Marauders struck first late in the opening half when Ravina Braich found the net in the 39th minute, assisted by Natalie Hagan, to give the hosts a 1–0 lead. Just four minutes later, Molly Palladino doubled McMaster's advantage in the 43rd minute off a feed from Shalagh Guha, sending York into halftime down 2–0.
York looked to respond early in the second half, pressing high and generating several quick transitions, including a promising chance from Sabrina Fabiano in the 47th minute, but McMaster's keeper Ali Mudie held firm, keeping the visitors off the board. The Marauders extended their lead in the 51st minute through Emma Fluit, with Jade Abreo drawing the helper, sealing a 3–0 margin that would hold until the final whistle.
York goalkeeper Rumaysa Khan made three saves in the loss, while the Lions registered four shots on goal, including looks from Giuliana Paolella and Joanna Abdelmalak, but couldn't break through a composed McMaster back line.
Despite the defeat, the Lions' season was marked by steady growth and resilience. From an early-season win over these same Marauders to earning a playoff berth for the second straight year, York once again proved to be a consistent postseason contender under head coach Carmine Isacco.
LOOKING AHEADÂ
With the loss, the Lions 2025 campaign comes to a close. As the program looks ahead to next season, York will aim to build on back-to-back playoff appearances and continue developing the core that has carried them back into postseason contention.
