On Sept. 16, the York Lions’ women’s soccer team were handed their first loss of the season in a game against the Guelph Gryphons, courtesy of a goal by Olivia Stavropoulos. The Lions tried to make a late comeback in the final minutes; late in the match, Nia Fleming-Thompson was brought down in the penalty box, and the referee made a controversial no-call.
The men played out to a goalless draw the same night. They were dominant throughout the game, but couldn’t seem to break the deadlock. The referee also made a questionable decision where a goal from Nick Spittle was ruled offside, alongside other controversial calls.
Head Coach Carmine Isacco comments on the game’s officiating: “We did score a proper goal; I am not going to whine about that.” Isacco acknowledges the strength of the opposition, saying, “We also have to realize we’re up against a tough opponent who is well organized.” Breaking down the opposing team’s defence will require us to stay focused and execute our game plan effectively.
Midfielder Christian Zappieri also had similar thoughts: “It was a tough game; both sides played well, [but] we were unlucky with our chances. I thought we were the better team at the end of the day.”
Unfortunately, the men’s unbeaten run came to an end as they lost 3-1 to the Algoma Thunderbirds this past weekend. This is coming off a 4-2 win from the day prior. The women’s team bounced back fiercely as they beat Algoma 8-0 and 12-0 respectively. Excalibur’s reigning athlete of the week, Nia Fleming-Thompson, is making a case for reprising the title back-to-back, as she netted five goals within those two games, which makes her the top scorer in the OUA with 12 points.
Looking ahead, the Lions host the Windsor Lancers on Sept. 27 at the York Lions stadium. Hopefully the men’s team bounces back and comes out even stronger next time, they sure have the potential to do so, and the women’s team continues their red-hot form.
