2013-14 Athletes of the Week

2014-15

Week of Mar. 16

David McKay, Track & Field

David McKay won his third straight CIS gold medal in the pole vault on Saturday in convincing fashion, finishing 28cm ahead of the rest of the field and with a 15cm personal best. The fourth-year athlete had a scare with the bar at 4.92m but cleared it on his third attempt to stay in the competition. He then passed 5.02m on his first try, which secured the gold medal when the rest of his competitors failed to clear the height. He then went for the personal best, first surpassing 5.10m before hitting 5.20m on his last try. McKay, now a three-time CIS first-team all-Canadian, has also won four straight OUA titles and is a four-time OUA all-star.

Khamica Bingham, Track & Field

York track and field athlete Khamica Bingham set a new CIS record in the 60m en route to the gold medal at the CIS championships in Windsor. The third-year sprinter won her third straight 60m national title with a blazing-fast time of 7.19 seconds, shattering her old record of 7.26 seconds she set last year. The time is also the second fastest in Canadian history. She won her second gold medal of the meet two days later when she ran the opening leg of the 4x200m relay, where the Lions set a new school record with a time of 1:37.98. Bingham, last year’s OUA female athlete of the year, earned CIS first-team all-Canadian honours for her performances.

Week of Mar. 2


 

Ayo Agusto, Track & Field

Ayo Agusto won two gold medals at the OUA championships this past weekend to help the Lions finish in second place in the team standings, their best result since 1996. The fourth-year sprinter ran a personal-best time of 34.23 seconds in the 300m to finish in first place and surpass the CIS auto qualifying standard. He also ran the team’s fastest leg in the 4x200m to help the Lions win gold in that relay, and he again was the fastest York runner in the 4x400m, where the Lions finished in fourth place. Agusto, who earned OUA first-team all-star honours for his efforts, is ranked No. 3 in the CIS in the 300m, and the 4x200m relay squad is also ranked No. 3.

Brittany Crew, Track & Field

Brittany Crew won two gold medals in the shot put and weight throw at the OUA championships and set school and meet records in both events to lead the Lions to fifth place in the team standings. The third-year thrower began the competition by dominating the shot put with a mark of 16.11 metres, breaking her old OUA record by 31 centimetres to win by nearly two metres over the silver medallist. She followed up that performance the next day with another impressive showing in the weight throw with a distance of 18.69 metres, surpassing the old OUA record by 62 centimetres and again winning by more than one metre. Crew, who is undefeated in the shot put this season and has reached the podium in every weight throw competition, is ranked No. 1 in the CIS in both events.

Week of Feb. 23

Ray Szeto, Volleyball

Ray Szeto was named the player of the match in the OUA bronze medal game as the Lions came all the way back to defeat the Windsor Lancers 3-2 and advance to the CIS championships for the first time in 10 years. The fifth-year outside hitter led all players with 24 points on 19 kills, three blocks and two service aces, and he also added four digs in the five-set win. He also recorded 15 points on 12 kills, two blocks and one service ace, and added a team-high 12 digs, in Friday’s four-set semifinal loss to the Waterloo Warriors. Szeto, who earlier in the week was named an OUA first-team all-star for the third time, is averaging 4.1 points per set in three playoff matches.

Jacinta Cowan, Track & Field

Jacinta Cowan won two silver medals in the weight throw and shot put at the Hal Brown Memorial Meet at the University of Toronto and set a new personal best in the weight throw at the Guelph Last Chance Meet this past weekend. The second-year thrower set a new personal-best mark in the weight throw with a distance of 15.29 metres to finish in second place, and she ended up in the same place in the shot put with a mark of 12.96 metres. One day later, she travelled to Guelph, Ont., and topped her weight throw personal best with a distance of 15.48 metres, which moved her into the top 12 in the CIS. Cowan, in her first season with the Lions, will compete in both events at the OUA championships this coming weekend.

Week of Feb. 16

 
JoshHenderson, Volleyball
Josh Henderson recorded 27.5 points to leadthe Lions to a four-set win over the Queen’s Gaels in their OUA quarter-final match on Sunday afternoon. The rookie outside hitter had a remarkable 22 kills, as well as 4.5 blocks and one service ace, and added eight digs in the match. He was at his best in a tense third set, accounting for 13 of the team’s 29 points (10 kills, three blocks) as the Lions held on to take it 29-27 and move to within one set of the win. His points-per-set average of 6.9 was three points more than his season average, and was the highest in the quarter-final round. Henderson, who finished the regular season ranked sixth in OUA scoring, and the Lions advanced to the OUA semifinals for the second time in three seasons.
 
AliKoca, Wrestling
Ali Koca won the gold medal in the 120kg weight division at the OUA championships at Laurentian University on Saturday. The first-year wrestler defeated McMaster’s Ahmed Ramadan in the final to claim York’s first OUA gold medal since 1989, and he was also named an OUA first-team all-star for his performance. Koca, who was also selected as the OUA men’s wrestling community service award recipient, has qualified for the CISchampionships in Edmonton Feb. 27-28.
 
AlexandriaTown, Wrestling
Alexandria Town won the silver medal in the 51kg weight division at the OUA championships this past weekend in Sudbury, Ont. The rookie wrestler was defeated by a single point by Brock’s Emily Schaefer in the final. With her silver-medal showing, Town was also named an OUA second-team all-star and qualified for the CIS championships in Edmonton in two weeks. She is the first York women’s wrestler to win a medal at the OUA championships and to represent the university at the CIS tournament.

Week of Feb. 9

Nikola Sandic, Volleyball

Nikola Sandic recorded 67 assists and added 5.5 points and six digs over two matches to lead the Lions to a pair of wins over Western and Windsor. The fifth-year setter, in his first year at the position, posted 40 assists, four digs and 1.5 points in a big four-set win over Western on Saturday. The next day, in his final regular-season contest, he had 27 assists as well as four points and two digs in a sweep of the Lancers. Sandic finished the regular season ranked second in the OUA with 9.78 assists per set, and the two wins extended the team’s season-ending winning streak to five matches and clinched home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Michelle Pierce, Volleyball

Michelle Pierce averaged 3.93 points over two matches to lead the Lions to a 1-1 record against Western and Windsor this past weekend. Playing in the final match of her career on Sunday, the fifth-year middle blocker recorded a game-high 15.5 points on 10 kills, 3.5 blocks and two service aces, and added two digs and two assists, in a sweep of the Lancers. One day earlier, she had 12 points on nine kills, two blocks and one service ace, and added three digs, in a four-set loss to the Mustangs. Pierce finished the season ranked 11^th in OUA scoring (3.6 points per set) and seventh in blocks per set (0.98).

Week of Feb. 2 



Nick Tufegdzich, Basketball
Nick Tufegdzich averaged 27.5 points and 15 rebounds over two games this past weekend to lead the Lions to a 1-1 record against Western and Windsor. The fifth-year forward was tremendous against the No. 5 nationally-ranked Lancers, putting up game highs of 30 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Lions to the 89-84 upset victory. He also had a big double-double one night earlier, posting 25 points and 16 rebounds in an 87-75 loss to the Mustangs. Tufegdzich is one of only two players in the OUA averaging a double-double on the season and he currently sits fourth in conference scoring (20.7 points per game) and second in rebounding (10.6 per game).

Brittany Crew, Track & Field

Brittany Crew set two meet records en route to gold medals in the shot put and weight throw at the 44^th York Open on Saturday. The third-year thrower began her day with three personal bests in the weight throw, including the winning distance of 18.18 metres that was 1.22 metres better than her previous best. The mark was 54 centimetres better than the old meet record and also qualified her for the CIS championships. Later in the day, she recorded a 15.73-metre throw in the shot put, eclipsing the meet record she set last year by 22 centimetres and winning the event by more than a full metre. Crew has won all six shot put events she has entered this season and finished in the top three in each weight throw competition, and she is now ranked No. 1 in the OUA and CIS in both events.

Week of Jan. 26

Bismark Boateng, Track & Field

Bismark Boateng won three medals, two of them gold, and qualified for the CIS championships in three different events while leading the Lions to the overall title at the McGill Team Challenge this past weekend. The third-year sprinter won the gold in the 60m in a season-best time of 6.83 seconds, topping a field of 60 runners and finishing as the only one under the CIS auto-qualifying time. He also won the silver medal in the 300m in a personal-best time of 34.15 seconds, reaching the podium from a field of 74 runners, and he wrapped up his weekend by running the opening leg of the 4x200m relay team that won the gold medal in a season-best time of 1:27.53. Boateng, who is ranked No. 1 in the CIS in the 60m and No. 2 in the 300m, contributed 30 points to the team’s 104-point total, which eclipsed Guelph by two points in the team standings.

Brittany Crew, Track & Field

Brittany Crew won gold and bronze medals at the McGill Team Challenge to lead the Lions to a sixth-place finish in the team standings. The third-year thrower continued her domination of the shot put event, winning the gold medal with a CIS-qualifying throw of 14.11 metres for her fifth straight shot put victory this season. She also won the bronze medal in the weight throw with a season-best distance of 16.61 metres, which qualified her for the OUA championships. Crew is ranked No. 1 in the CIS in the shot put and No. 5 in the weight throw.

Week of Jan. 19


 

Josh Henderson, Volleyball

Josh Henderson averaged 3.94 points in two matches as the Lions went 1-1 against Guelph and Waterloo. The rookie outside hitter was tremendous in a four-set win over the Gryphons, recording a game-high 20.5 points on 18 kills, two service aces and an assisted block. He was instrumental in the win, recording seven kills in the fourth set alone. He also had a strong match in a four-set loss to the Warriors with 11 points on 10 kills and one service ace. Henderson is currently tied for seventh in OUA scoring with 3.9 points per set and is sixth with 3.29 kills per set, both top ranks for first-year players.

Megan Lee, Hockey

Megan Lee made 62 saves in two games to lead the Lions to a 1-1 record against UOIT and Queen’s. The fourth-year netminder was impressive in a 3-1 win over the Ridgebacks on Sunday afternoon in making 35 saves, including 16 in the third period alone, and allowing just the one goal. She was also strong the previous day against the No. 4 nationally-ranked Gaels, stopping 27 shots as the Lions were defeated by just a single goal. Lee has played more minutes than any other goalie in the OUA and is also first in total saves (444). She also ranks eighth in save percentage (.919) and ninth in goals against average (2.29).

Week of Jan. 12

Chris Perugini, Hockey

Chris Perugini made 81 saves and allowed just three goals in two games to lead the Lions to a pair of victories over Queen’s and UOIT this past weekend. The third-year goaltender was tremendous on Friday night in making a season-high 51 saves, including 19 in the third period alone while the Lions managed just four, as part of a 4-1 win over the Gaels. The next night he was strong again, stopping 30 of the 32 shots he faced in a 5-2 triumph over the Ridgebacks. Perugini, in his first year as a starter, leads the OUA with 600 total saves and is seventh in save percentage (.917).

Holly Pitters, Track & Field

Holly Pitters won gold and silver medals and hit the CIS auto-qualifying standard at the Can Am Classic at the University of Windsor this weekend. The second-year jumps specialist won the silver medal in the triple jump with a personal-best distance of 12.10m to automatically qualify for the CIS championships for the first time. The next day she reached the top of the podium, winning the gold medal in the long jump with another personal best of 5.68m. Pitters is currently ranked second in the CIS in the triple jump and third in the long jump.

Week of Dec. 1

Nick Tufegdzich, Basketball

Nick Tufegdzich averaged 23 points and nine rebounds in two games last week to lead the Lions to a 1-1 record. In a dominant 110-75 win over the visiting Algoma Thunderbirds, the fifth-year forward had game highs of 21 points and nine rebounds, and added three assists, two blocks and one steal in just 26 minutes of action. Earlier in the week, he again led all players with 25 points and also  posted nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals in an 86-84 loss to the Queen’s Gaels. Tufegdzich is currently second in the OUA in rebounds (10.6) and fifth in scoring (20.6 points per game), and is one of only three players in the conference averaging a double-double.

Sarai Whitty, Hockey

Sarai Whitty recorded four points in two games to lead the Lions to three of a possible four points in their weekend contests. The fourth-year forward scored two goals and assisted on the game-winner in a big 5-0 win over the Ryerson Rams on Sunday afternoon. She scored the second goal of the game just 2:25 into the second period and also netted the fifth mid-way through the third. One day earlier, she assisted on the team’s lone goal in an eventual 2-1 shootout loss to the Toronto Varsity Blues. Whitty now has five points in 14 games this season and is on pace to set a new career high this year.

Week of Nov. 24

Ray Szeto, Volleyball

Ray Szeto averaged 4.61 points per set over two matches to lead the Lions to a pair of wins over Windsor and Western this past weekend. In a thrilling five-set win over the Lancers, the fifth-year outside hitter scored 20 points, all on kills, and added a match-high 12 digs. The following night he was even better with 21.5 points on 18 kills, 2.5 blocks and one service ace, and he also had six digs in the four-set victory over the Mustangs. Szeto, a two-time OUA all-star and CIS all-Canadian, is fifth in OUA scoring with 4.24 points per set and is also in the conference’s top 20 in digs per set at 1.53.

Courtney Osborne, Basketball

Courtney Osborne tallied 17 points and 24 rebounds in two games against Guelph and McMaster last weekend. The fifth-year forward pulled down a game-high 18 rebounds against the Marauders on Saturday, tied for the second highest single-game total in the OUA this season, and added seven points, three assists and one steal in a 51-46 loss. Earlier in the week, she led all Lions with 10 points and added six rebounds and one assist in a 75-43 loss to the Gryphons. Osborne is 11^th in the OUA with 7.6 rebounds per game and leads the Lions in scoring with 8.0 points per game.

Week of Nov. 17

Michael Santini, Hockey

Michael Santini recorded five points in two games to help the Lions earn three of a possible four points against RMC and Carleton this past weekend. In a 4-3 shootout loss to the No. 8 nationally-ranked Ravens, the third-year forward had a hand in each of York’s three goals. He scored the tying marker on a power play with just 1:19 left on the clock to send the game to overtime, and also earned assists on each of the first two goals. One day earlier, he scored the final goal of the contest and assisted on the team’s fourth tally in a 7-4 victory over the Paladins. Santini is second in team scoring with eight points (four goals, four assists).

Lisa Stathopulos, Hockey

Lisa Stathopulos scored all three goals, including the winner in overtime, to lead the Lions to a 3-2 comeback victory over the Laurentian Voyageurs in Sudbury on Saturday. Down 2-0 midway through the third period, the fifth-year forward found the back of the net at 12:12 to cut the deficit to 2-1, and netted her second of the game with less than two minutes remaining to send the game to overtime. She completed the natural hat trick at 3:03 of the extra frame for the win. One day earlier, she also scored the opening goal on a power play in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Nipissing Lakers in North Bay. Stathopulos has a six-point lead in the OUA scoring race with 19 points in 12 games, and her 10 goals are also four more than any other player in the conference.

Week of Nov. 10

Jarek Whiteman, Soccer

Jarek Whiteman scored two goals at the OUA Final Four Championships and was named the player of the game in the final to lead the Lions to their second straight conference title. The third-year striker, who began the week by being named the OUA West most valuable player and a first-team all-star, netted the team’s insurance goals in both contests, scoring in the 75^th minute in the 2-0 semifinal win over Toronto and in the 90^th minute in the 2-0 win over McMaster in the final. He also generated numerous offensive chances throughout the weekend, recording five shots on goal, and beat the opposing goalies on two other occasions but hit the post twice. Whiteman finished the regular season second in OUA scoring with 13 goals and tied for the OUA playoff lead with two.

Amy Locke, Hockey 

Amy Locke scored four goals and added one assist to lead the Lions to a pair of victories over Guelph and Brock this past weekend. In a 5-1 upset victory over the No. 6 nationally-ranked Gryphons, the second-year forward assisted on the Lions’ third goal of the game and then scored two goals in an eight-minute span in the second period to put the game out of reach. The next day, she opened the scoring 23 seconds into the second period and added another goal on the power play 38 seconds into the third to seal a 3-1 win over the Badgers. Locke, the team’s leading rookie scorer last year, is currently tied for sixth in OUA scoring with seven points (five goals, two assists) through eight games.

Week of Nov. 3

Jarek Whiteman, Soccer

Jarek Whiteman scored two goals at the OUA Final Four Championships and was named the player of the game in the final to lead the Lions to their second straight conference title. The third-year striker, who began the week by being named the OUA West most valuable player and a first-team all-star, netted the team’s insurance goals in both contests, scoring in the 75^th minute in the 2-0 semifinal win over Toronto and in the 90^th minute in the 2-0 win over McMaster in the final. He also generated numerous offensive chances throughout the weekend, recording five shots on goal, and beat the opposing goalies on two other occasions but hit the post twice. Whiteman finished the regular season second in OUA scoring with 13 goals and tied for the OUA playoff lead with two.

Amy Locke, Hockey 

Amy Locke scored four goals and added one assist to lead the Lions to a pair of victories over Guelph and Brock this past weekend. In a 5-1 upset victory over the No. 6 nationally-ranked Gryphons, the second-year forward assisted on the Lions’ third goal of the game and then scored two goals in an eight-minute span in the second period to put the game out of reach. The next day, she opened the scoring 23 seconds into the second period and added another goal on the power play 38 seconds into the third to seal a 3-1 win over the Badgers. Locke, the team’s leading rookie scorer last year, is currently tied for sixth in OUA scoring with seven points (five goals, two assists) through eight games.

Week of Oct. 27

Derek Sheppard, Hockey

Derek Sheppard scored two goals, including the game winner, and added one assist to lead the Lions to a 5-4 upset victory over the previously undefeated and No. 4 nationally-ranked UQTR Patriotes on Saturday night. The first-year defender scored an unassisted marker mid-way through the first period for a 2-1 York lead, and added his second of the game on a power play late in the second, the Lions’ fifth goal that turned into the winning score. He also assisted on the game’s first goal. Sheppard is tied for seventh in OUA scoring by defencemen with six points (three goals, three assists) this season.

Rianna Langford, Hockey

Rianna Langford scored two goals and added one assist to lead the Lions to a 4-3 comeback victory over the Waterloo Warriors on Sunday afternoon. With the Lions down 2-0 heading into the third period, the third-year forward scored two goals and assisted on a third in less than six minutes to turn the score into a 3-2 Lions lead. After assisting on Amy Locke’s goal 23 seconds into the frame, she scored her first of the contest at 4:23 and her second two minutes later. Langford is tied for second on the team and 19^th in the OUA with four points (three goals, one assist) this season.

Week of Oct. 20

Nicolas Mejia, Soccer

Nicolas Mejia scored two goals, including the game winner, to lead the Lions to their 13^th straight victory of the season, a 4-2 win over the Windsor Lancers on Saturday afternoon. The third-year striker netted the game’s first goal in the 33^rd minute and added his second of the contest in the 51^st minute, tapping in a beautiful pass from Casey D’Mello for the team’s third goal. The next day against the Western Mustangs, he had the team’s best chance to score with a nice touch that was saved by the goalkeeper as part of a scoreless draw. Mejia recorded two goals and one assist in eight games this season.

Brittney Hopley, Volleyball

Brittney Hopley scored 12.5 points and added two assists and one dig to lead the Lions to a straight-sets upset victory over the No. 4 nationally ranked Ottawa Gee-Gees in their season opener on Saturday. The fifth-year middle blocker ended the match with nine kills, including a huge one in the second set that rallied the Lions to four straight points for the set win, and 3.5 blocks. Hopley, an OUA all-star and the team MVP last year, is tied for seventh in the OUA after opening weekend with 4.17 points per set. 

Week of Oct. 14

Dylan Smoskowitz, Hockey

Dylan Smoskowitz recorded a hat trick and added an assist to lead the Lions to a 6-4 victory over the Lakehead Thunderwolves on Friday night. The first-year forward recorded a natural hat trick in just 4:29 of game time, turning a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead. He scored his first at 15:51 of the first period and his second just 2:03 later, and added his third of the night 20 seconds into the second frame. He also assisted on Colton Vannucci’s game winner later in the second. Smoskowitz is tied for the OUA lead with five goals in four games and is tied for sixth overall in conference scoring with six points.

Lisa Stathopulos, Hockey

Lisa Stathopulos scored two goals to lead the Lions to a 4-1 win over the Brock Badgers on Sunday afternoon, the team’s first win of the year. The fifth-year forward netted the opening goal of the game just 4:02 in, and pushed the lead to 3-0 later in the period with her second of the day. Stathopulos leads the Lions and is tied for fourth in the OUA with the two goals.

Week of Oct. 6

Joey Cicchillo, Soccer
Cicchillo scored three goals in two games to lead the No. 2 Lions to a pair of wins over Guelph and McMaster, their two closest rivals in the OUA West standings. In a battle of nationally-ranked teams on Saturday, the third-year striker scored an absolute beauty 10 minutes into the contest and added an insurance goal in the 79^th minute as part of a 4-1 win over the No. 7 Gryphons. The following day he again netted the opening goal, this time in the 21^st minute, in a 2-1 win over the Marauders. Cicchillo, an OUA West first-team all-star last year, is tied for seventh in OUA scoring with six goals and his tallies helped the Lions extend their winning streak to 11 games.

Valerie Ushanova, Tennis
Ushanova won the top flight singles gold medal at the OUA championships this past weekend to lead the Lions to the conference banner, their first team title since 2003. The fourth-year player dominated her singles draw without dropping a set en route to her second singles title in the last three years. She won her first match 6-0, 6-0, her second 6-4, 6-3, and in the final fought off three set points in the first set to defeat Toronto’s Steffi Wong 7-5, 6-4. Ushanova also won the silver medal in the top flight doubles competition alongside Julia Kedrzycki and was named an OUA all-star for the fourth straight year at the conclusion of the tournament.

Week of Sept. 29

Ian Lawrence, Football
Lawrence was tremendous on defence for the Lions in their 35-3 loss to the Windsor Lancers on Friday night. Late in the first quarter, the rookie defensive back batted down a third-down touchdown attempt in the end zone, preventing the Lancers from scoring from the three-yard line. On Windsor’s next drive, he recorded his first career interception with a beautiful pick of an Austin Kennedy pass, and he broke up another pass in the third quarter that forced the Lancers to punt. He also finished with six solo tackles, tied for the most in the game. Lawrence leads the Lions and is tied for sixth in the OUA with three pass break-ups, and he is fifth on the team and 35^th in the OUA with 17.5 tackles this season.

Zoe Smith, Rugby
Smith scored five tries to lead the Lions to a dominant 100-0 victory over the rival Toronto Varsity Blues on Friday night. Playing in the final regular-season home game of her career, the fifth-year winger put 25 points on the scoreboard and also helped the team keep its defensive structure at the other end of the pitch to preserve the shutout, its first since the season opener in 2013. Smith, an OUA Russell Division all-star for the first time last year, is second in team scoring with 27 points this season.

Week of Sept. 22

Jarek Whiteman, Soccer
Jarek Whiteman scored four goals in three games to lead the Lions to a trio of wins over Guelph, Waterloo and Laurier. Against the Gryphons in a battle of nationally-ranked teams on Wednesday, the third-year striker netted the winning goal in the 68^th minute to break a 1-1 draw en route to a 3-1 win. On Friday, he came off the bench in the second half and netted the game’s final goal in the 89^th minute of a 6-0 win over the Warriors, and on Sunday he scored two goals in the 71^st and 81^st minutes to help the Lions defeat the Golden Hawks 3-0. Whiteman is currently the OUA scoring leader with 10 goals in nine games played.

Kelsi Smith, Tennis
Kelsi Smith went 6-0 in singles and doubles this past weekend to help the Lions to a trio of wins over Western, Waterloo and Montreal, keeping their undefeated season intact. The fifth-year player did not drop a set in any of her matches and outscored her opponents 37-17 in singles. She defeated Karishma Taneja of the Mustangs 6-3, 6-1, Nathalie Skaf of the Warriors 6-2, 6-1 and Montreal’s Clementine Michallon 7-6, 6-4, and in doubles she teamed with both Elizabeth Branopolski for an 8-6 win over Western and an 8-1 victory over Montreal, and Eugenie Lim Ah Tock in an 8-1 win over Waterloo.

Week of Sept. 15

Nour Ghoneim
York soccer player Nour Ghoneim scored three goals in two games, including the winner in an upset win over CIS No. 1 Western, to keep the Lions season-opening unbeaten streak alive. Against the Mustangs, the third-year striker found the back of the net in the 84^th minute to complete the comeback and hand Western its first loss of the season. The next day, she scored a pair of first-half goals, one in the 10^th minute and the other just before the halftime whistle, to lead the Lions to a 5-1 win over the Windsor Lancers. Ghoneim is the team’s leader and ranks second in the OUA with 11 goals in six games this season.
 
Fedelia Omoghan
York rugby player Fedelia Omoghan scored the team’s lone try to lead the Lions to a 10-7 victory over the Waterloo Warriors in their home opener on Friday night. The fifth-year lock put the Lions on the scoreboard mid-way through the first half with her first try of the season. She also led the team’s offensive attack with several long runs, and played a significant role on the defensive effort from the front in holding the Warriors to just seven points. Omoghan is tied for the team lead in scoring with five points.

Week of Sept. 8

Jarek Whiteman, Soccer
Jarek Whiteman scored three goals in two games to lead the Lions to a pair of lopsided victories over the Algoma Thunderbirds in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., this past weekend. The third-year striker had a busy first half in a 9-0 win on Sunday, scoring two goals and adding one assist. He netted what turned out to be the game winner in the 16^th minute and scored his second of the game in the 45^th minute, and also assisted on Jonathan Lao’s 33^rd-minute tally. One day earlier, he scored in the 23^rd minute as part of an 11-1 victory. Whiteman, a former OUA West all-star, is currently third in conference scoring with four goals this season.

Stephanie Caruso, Soccer
Stephanie Caruso had the best weekend of her CIS career with five goals and four assists in two games to help the Lions to back-to-back one-sided wins over the Algoma Thunderbirds on the road. The third-year striker netted a hat trick – one goal just before the half and the other two in the final 10 minutes of the contest – and added two assists in a 16-0 victory. One day later she continued her torrid scoring pace with another two goals in the 49^th and 83^rd minutes, and recorded another two assists, in the team’s 12-0 win. Caruso is currently fifth in OUA scoring with five goals this season.

Week of Sept. 1



Colm Vance recorded a pair of cleansheets on opening weekend of the soccer season to lead the Lions to a 1-0-1 record. The fourth-year netminder, who earned the starting job this season, made five saves in a scoreless draw against the McMaster Marauders on Sunday afternoon, including a game-saver in the 82^nd minute when he came well out of his net to stop a breakaway attempt. He also made one save in a 3-0 win over the Brock Badgers on Saturday. Vance’s six saves rank him eighth in the OUA.

Nour Ghoneim started her third year with the Lions with a bang, scoring two goals in the first half of the season opener to lead the squad to a 4-0 victory over the Brock Badgers. She netted the first in the 29^th minute, what stood as the game-winning goal, and added another in the 41^st minute. Ghoneim, who led the Lions in scoring last year despite playing just nine games, recorded five shots on goal in the contest. She also had a gorgeous diving header attempt the following day against the McMaster Marauders. Despite not scoring on that shot, the Lions went on to win 2-0.