Women's Soccer | 9/25/2025 8:00:00 AM
The last time the York University Lions women's soccer team faced the Western Mustangs, it was for a trip to the OUA semi-final.
Western was the heavy favourite, having not lost a single game all season. That was until that very night, a Wednesday evening in late October, when Sabrina Fabiano scored the winner in the 100th minute to stun the Mustangs and earn York a second straight 1-0 win and a spot in the semis.
11 months later, the teams convene again beginning Friday in London for a home-and-home series. While the stakes are lower this time around, there is still plenty to play for, for both teams, as the season enters its final third. The Mustangs currently lead the OUA West at 5-0-1, while the Lions sit fifth in the division at 3-2-2.
While Western owns a game in hand on York, the Lions remain within striking distance of the Mustangs, just five points behind them entering play Friday. The Lions are coming off a stunning 3-2 win over the Guelph Gryphons on Monday night in which they rallied from two goals down to hand Guelph its first loss of the season. They have the opportunity to do the same thing to Western Friday, and, should they do so, move to within just two points of the Mustangs with an opportunity to pass them with another win in Monday's rematch.
The Lions have found some offence in recent matches, scoring multiple goals in each of their last four contests. However, they are about to face their toughest test yet in a Western team that has conceded just two goals – not a typo – in their six matches thus far, the fewest in the OUA. Thus, as the old saying goes, something's got to give. Can the Lions continue their strong offensive output and crack the foundation of a stingy Western defence? Or do the Mustangs, who are ranked fourth in the country and one of the best defensive teams in the nation, hold serve and silence a Lions offence that has found its groove?
You can tune Friday and Monday to find out.Both matches are available live and free of charge on OUA.tv, beginning at 6:00 pm. Tickets for Monday's match at York Lions Stadium can be purchased here.
