X-Men lose close 2-1 quarterfinal game to York
The No. 6 seeded York Lions defeated the No. 3 seeded STFX X-Men 2-1 in U SPORTS quarterfinal action Thursday
Oshawa, ON – The No. 6 seeded York Lions defeated the No. 3 seeded STFX X-Men 2-1 in U SPORTS quarterfinal action Thursday at Vaso's Field at the national championship hosted by Ontario Tech University.
The same two teams met last year in the U SPORTS fifth place game with the Lions also taking that match 3-1.
With the win, York moves on to face the winner of the Montreal-Mount Royal quarterfinal game in Friday's semifinal game at 4:00 pm EST. STFX is relegated to the consolation side of the bracket and will play in the consolation semifinal Friday at 11:00 am EST against the loser of the Montreal-Mount Royal game.
In what was a physical game throughout, the Lions scored early in the game as Yigal Bruk knocked in a rebound in the fifth minute after X-Men goaltender Sam Diltz made a diving save off an initial shot from Christian Zeppieri.
York kept up the pressure early in the first half and Zeppieri – the U SPORTS player of the year – delivered a low, fast shot seven minutes later that was saved by Diltz.
First team all-Canadian midfielder Logan Rieck had the first good scoring chance for X in the 19th minute but his shot was blocked.
The X-Men had another chance off a corner kick 28 minutes in, but the Lions were able to clear several bouncing balls.
STFX settled in for the latter part of the opening half after playing some strong defense against the Lions attack.
Sam Barrowcliffe had a great shot in tight in the 40th minute but Lions keeper Alessio Carbone made good on the save.
The opening 45 minutes closed out with the Lions holding onto the 1-0 lead. The OUA finalists outshot the AUS champion X-Men 9-4 in the first half.
STFX had an early scoring chance in the second half with Dyan Vil directing a headed ball on goal. The X-Men kept the pressure on as they tried to press for the equalizer.
Bruk had a good chance for the Lions in the 53rd minute as Diltz came up with a glove save redirecting the ball up and over the cross bar.
Rieck had a solid shot seven minutes later, but his ball sailed high of the goal.
Zeppieri made it a 2-0 York lead, converting on a penalty kick in the 65th minute after he was taken down inside the box.
The Lions did well at shutting down the lanes as the X-Men struggled to penetrate on offense and generate shots on goal late in the second half.
Rieck finally got the X-Men on the board in the 90th minute in extra time as he deked around one Lions defender then chipped the ball high into the corner of the York net.
Time ran out for the X-Men however as the Lions hung on for the 2-1 victory.
Lions defender Manveer Gill was named the player of the game for York, midfielder Noah MacIntyre received player of the game honours for STFX.
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Recap courtesy Krista McKenna, STFX Athletics
