Matt Dionne | Sports and Health Editor
Featured image: Lions playoff woes continue against the Golden Gaels. | Courtesy of York Lions
After losing to the Queen’s Golden Gaels in the final match of the regular season, the Lions were hoping for a little revenge Friday, this time in an elimination match in the Ontario University Athletics quarter-finals.
Unfortunately, they were unable to improve on their loss from the week before, as Queen’s took the game by a score of 60-7.
The Lionesses were hoping to end their playoff curse after a strong season start. However, they were unable to get the metaphorical monkey off their backs, as they have now lost in the first round of the playoffs for the last four years in a row.
Miranda Seifert opened the scoring for the Gaels just three minutes in, and they never looked back.
Queen’s dominated the first half, scoring 26 points on four tries and three conversions. Nadia Popov had all three conversions and also scored a try herself.
The Gaels ended the half on a high note, as Jordi Di Nardo would close the frame with her first try of the game.
York opened the scoring in the second half, with a try courtesy of Dorrian Khouri, which was converted by Catherine Belanger. Unfortunately for the Lions, that was all the offence they were able to muster.
Queen’s would answer with tries of their own, courtesy of Dominique Rumball, Sadie Stephenson and Di Nardo’s second of the game.
Despite their large lead, Queen’s didn’t take their foot off the gas. Emma Faught would close out the game with a last-minute try on a run down the sideline to push the Gaels over the 60-point plateau.
Popov was stellar for the Gaels, scoring two tries herself and successfully making five conversions to account for 20 of Queen’s 60 points.
Queen’s and York are on the opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to post-season success. While York has struggled the last four years, being unable to advance past the first round, the Golden Gaels have made it to the semi-final for eight straight seasons, including this one.
Despite the loss, the Lionesses had a good season, finishing with a 3-2 record, a point differential of plus-83 and two 70+ margins of victory.
York also has a relatively young team, with 34 players in their first three years of eligibility.
