Varsity Athletics | 10/1/2026 10:45:00 AM
The York Lions Women's Soccer team is scheduled for quite the battle this weekend with two games set to take place. The Lions have been one of the best teams in the OUA this season so far and are currently on a five-game unbeaten streak.
The Lions are coming off a match last weekend against the Laurier Golden Hawks. Both teams fought hard and we're unable to best each other, resulting in a 1-1 tie. Prior to that game, York had won four straight and the tie extends their unbeaten streak to five games. They'll look to extend that streak this weekend when they face off against the Guelph Gryphons and the McMaster Marauders.
Firstly, on Friday, the Lions will host the Guelph Gryphons at York Lions Stadium in a heavyweight tilt of two of the best teams in the OUA. The Guelph Gryphons currently hold the first seed in the OUA West Conference with a record of 7-0. York are just behind the Gryphons in the standings with a record of 6-1-1 and a win would help a lot in their pursuit of first place.
The Lions/Gryphons matchup should be one with lots of action, as both teams are among the top in the OUA for shots per game. York averages 13.4 shots while the Gryphons average 14.6, setting this one up to be a high shooting contest. However, when it comes to these two teams high shooting does not mean high scoring. Both teams play a very sound defensive style, both giving up an average of less than one goal per game. York gives up an average of 0.50 goals per contest while Guelph gives up 0.62. While the shots are expected to fly, the goals are not guaranteed to come with it.
The Lions/Gryphons game will also include two of the OUA's top performers in York's Nia Fleming-Thompson and Olivia Rizako. Fleming-Thompson and Rizako are both among the league leaders in points in the OUA. Rizako sits second in the OUA with 11 total points while Fleming-Thompson sits in a tie for third with 10 total points, as both are leading their teams in scoring as well as to victories so far, this OUA season.
On Sunday, after their match against Guelph, York will travel to Hamilton to face the McMaster Marauders. The Marauders are the only team to have beaten the Lions yet so far, securing a 1-0 victory earlier in September. York will look to generate some more offense and avenge the Lions only loss of the season. Since that win, McMaster has not fared the greatest either, going 1-3-2 since they last beat the Lions. Time will tell if that result was the status quo or if York has figured out some of their early season concerns.
The game against Guelph on Friday, October 2nd is set to kick-off at 6 PM EST at York Lions Stadium. Tickets are available at yorkulions.ca/tickets. The Lions will then play Sunday, October 4th in Hamilton with that game scheduled to kick-off at 4 PM EST. Both games will be available to stream on oua.tv.
