The York University Lions field hockey team welcomed the Queen's Gaels to Alumni Field on Sunday for its final regular-season game. Following a victory over the Western Mustangs on Saturday, York officially locked down top spot in the OUA and, with it, hosting rights for the 2026 OUA Field Hockey Championship, scheduled for Oct. 24 and 25 at Alumni Field. The Lions entered this matchup looking to complete a perfect weekend, and end the regular season on an 11-game unbeaten streak.
York entered its six graduating seniors, Keira Ho, Juliet Redelaar, Emily Esser, Avery Davis, Jocelyn Boyd and Abby Thompson, in a pregame ceremony ahead of their final home regular season game.
As for the match, York wasted little time creating chances, with Gates McAllister and Kathryn Carlow testing Queen's goalkeeper Sarah Downes early in the opening quarter. The Lions broke through at 10:11 when Ho scored the game's opening goal, with her third in the last two games, giving York a 1–0 lead heading into the second quarter.
The Lions continued to apply pressure after the break, with Mufarowashe Matambo finding the back of the net at in the final seconds of the first half to extend the advantage to 2–0. York carried its momentum into the third quarter, generating further opportunities through Katie Tye, Boyd and Carlow, though Downes kept the Gaels within reach with several saves.
York added another goal at 37:02 when Gates McAllister scored off an assist from Thompson making it 3-0 midway through the third. Despite Queen's creating opportunities of its own, including a penalty corner late in the third quarter, the Lions' defence limited the Gaels chances. Goalkeeper Ella Ciesielski also made a save on an attempt from Ingrid MacDonald, while Tye recorded a defensive save to preserve York's three-goal advantage.
The Lions continued to pull away in the final quarter. Matambo scored again just 17 seconds into the fourth for her second goal of the game, before Carlow added York's fifth at 52:16 off an assist from Redelaar. Downes made some additional saves in the closing minutes, but Queen's could not find a response as York secured a 5–0 shutout.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The victory capped off a successful weekend for the Lions, who also defeated Western 5–1 on Saturday. With both wins secured, the Lions will now look to carry their regular-season momentum into the playoffs as they prepare to defend their conference title. Stay tuned to yorkulions.ca for more information.
