Alex Colle | Staff Writer
Featured image: The women’s soccer team fell to the Gryphons 1-0 in their first loss of the season. | Courtesy of York Lions
The Lions men’s and women’s soccer teams saw mixed results this weekend against the Guelph Gryphons at home, with the men’s team defeating Guelph by a score of 4-2 and the women’s team falling 1-0.
The loss was the first of the year for the women, while the men remain undefeated.
After going into the break trailing 2-1, the men’s team scored three unanswered goals late in the second half to solidify their victory and bring their record to a terrific 12-0-2.
An exciting first half saw each team take six shots on goal, but the Lions pounced in the second half on both ends of the field, outshooting the Gryphons 7-1.
Men’s forward Milan Beader scored twice as a result of poor defensive play by the Gryphons in each half. What ultimately gave the Lions the victory was terrific ball movement in the second half, which allowed them to easily get past the Gryphons’ defenders. The loss was only Guelph’s third of the season; their record is now 9-3-2.
Beader has been red-hot this October, scoring three goals in his last three games. His season total is now up to seven, the ninth-most in the Ontario University Athletics, or OUA, and his two game-winning goals rank seventh.
The women’s team failed to record a goal in a game that saw terrific defensive play from both sides. Only four shots on goal were allowed by the Gryphons’ defense, all of which were saved by goalkeeper Elizabeth Brenneman, who was able to preserve the shutout.
Two shots on goal by the Gryphons turned out to be enough, as one of those shots, by Guelph forward Victoria Hinchcliffe, found the back of the net. After the loss, the Lionesses’ record is now 10-1-3.
The Lionesses are still first in the OUA West division with 33 points, but Western is right behind them with 32.
With 38 points, the men’s team is also still in first, but the Gryphons are creeping up on them with 32.
The men’s and women’s teams will be playing at home on Saturday against the Windsor Lancers at York Stadium. The women play at 1 p.m. and the men at 3:15 p.m.
