Matt Dionne | Sports and Health Editor
Featured image: Lions feast on Mustangs in 5-0 victory to move into second in OUA West. | Courtesy of York Lions
The men’s and women’s hockey teams each played twice this weekend, with the men taking on Brock and Western and the women playing Laurentian and Nipissing.
The men played first on Friday in a rematch of their season opener against the Brock Badgers. Unfortunately, the Lions were unable to get revenge for their opening night defeat, as the Badgers put an end to York’s four-game winning streak with a 3-1 victory.
Brock was in control throughout the game, opening the scoring just six minutes into the first period on winger Sammy Banga’s fifth goal of the season.
Six minutes later, the Badgers would add some insurance courtesy of Matt MacLeod.
York cut the Badgers lead in half 10 minutes into the second period on a power-play goal, courtesy of Scott Feser.
However, that would be as close as the Lions would get, as Brock would add an empty-netter in the final two minutes of the third to seal the victory. The men’s second game of the weekend was against Western.
The Lions opened the scoring in the first with a power-play goal from Greg Milner, his fourth of the season, which was assisted by Steven Janes and Derek Sheppard.
In the second, York would add to their lead on Bryce Milson’s second goal of the season. Less than three minutes later, Lion Kyle Campbell scored his third goal of the season, which came on the power play.
Alex Fotinos, who started in net for the Lions in place of Mack Shields, was phenomenal on Saturday, stopping all 39 shots he faced to keep Western off the scoreboard.
The Lions would add two more goals in the third to put the game out of reach. With the 5-0 win, the Lions are now 5-3 on the season and tied for second in the Ontario University Athletics, or OUA, West Division.
The women’s first game of the weekend was Saturday against Laurentian. The Lionesses were hoping to ride their momentum from last weekend’s thrilling shootout victory over Ryerson.
Unfortunately, it was Laurentian that drew first blood, opening the scoring six minutes into the first courtesy of Myla McCormick.
York would tie it seven minutes into the second on Avery Reeves’ first goal of the season. York’s celebration was short-lived, as Laurentian would retake the lead just over two minutes later.
The Lionesses refused to give up, and with just five minutes left to play in the second, Amy Locke tied the game on her first goal of the season.
Laurentian immediately answered, as Ellery Veerman found the back of the net to give Laurentian a 3-2 lead that they would not relinquish.
In the women’s second game, the Lionesses took on on first-place Nipissing on Sunday. York was able to jump out to an early two-goal lead, but Nipissing continued to battle, eventually tying the game up late in the third and forcing overtime.
With less than two minutes to play in the extra frame, the Nipissing Lakers were able to beat York’s goalie and find the back of the net for the 3-2 win.
With the loss, the Lionesses are now tied for second-last in the OUA with six points, while Nipissing is still in first with 13.
Both the men and women will be playing again on Thursday. The men will be taking on the Rams at Ryerson at 7:15 p.m., while the women will be in Guelph taking on the Gryphons at 7:30 p.m.
