The Algoma University Thunderbirds entered the September 19–20 weekend at Superior Heights searching for their first victories of the 2026 OUA women’s and men’s soccer seasons. Standing in their way were the York Lions, who arrived in Sault Ste. Marie sitting atop the OUA West Division standings in both programs.

York’s women entered the weekend with a 5-1 record, while the Lions men were a perfect 5-0. Despite strong efforts from both Algoma squads, the Thunderbirds were unable to break into the win column as York swept all four games over the two-day weekend.

York Women Take Saturday Opener 4-0
The weekend opened Saturday afternoon with the Algoma women taking on the York Lions.

York wasted little time establishing control of the match, opening the scoring at the 17:52 mark when Erica Di Matteo found the back of the net with an assist from Nia Fleming-Thompson to make it 1-0.

Fleming-Thompson then doubled the Lions’ advantage at 38:50, scoring an unassisted goal to give York a 2-0 lead. The Lions added another goal just before halftime, with Olivia Zeitler scoring at 45:00 off an assist from Joanna Abdelmalak.

Holding a 3-0 advantage heading into the second half, York continued to pressure the Thunderbirds while Algoma looked for an opportunity to get on the scoreboard. The Lions eventually added their fourth goal at 88:02 when Leanna Massi scored off an assist from Sienna Caesar.

Algoma was held to just two shots in the contest, with Tori Carbone and Berlyn Killoran each recording one shot.

York finished with nine shots, led by Fleming-Thompson with four and Di Matteo with three. Massi added two shots, while Kyra Nasseri, Olivia Tang, Maia McConney and Sofia Locker each recorded one.

Algoma goalkeeper Paisley Pennington made four saves on nine York shots, while York goalkeeper Charlotte Phillips stopped both shots she faced.

The Lions completed the opening game with a 4-0 victory.

York Women Complete Weekend Sweep
The Algoma women returned to Superior Heights Sunday looking to rebound from Saturday’s 4-0 defeat and close the weekend with a stronger performance.

York again struck first, with Jasmyn Clarke opening the scoring at 28:24 on an unassisted goal. Just under three minutes later, Fleming-Thompson added another for the Lions, scoring at 31:19 with an assist from Arianna Piacente.

The two-goal York advantage carried into the second half as Algoma continued to search for its first goal of the weekend.

The Lions added a third goal at the 90:00 mark when Isabella Rende scored off an assist from Clarke, securing a 3-0 York victory.

Algoma managed three shots in the contest, with Taya Shackleton, Kay Tones and Berlyn Killoran each registering one.

Fleming-Thompson led York with four shots and a goal, while Di Matteo recorded three shots. Massi had two shots, with Nasseri, Tang, Maia McConney and Zeitler also recording shots.

Algoma goalkeeper Carolina Trs made five saves on eight York shots, while York’s Gracie Abbink stopped all four shots she faced.

The result gave York its second shutout victory of the weekend and completed the women’s two-game sweep.

York Men’s Side Scores Five in Saturday Victory
The Algoma men took to the Superior Heights turf Saturday afternoon looking to end York’s perfect start to the season.

The Lions immediately put pressure on the Thunderbirds, with Anthony Morano scoring just 3:49 into the match. Morano struck again at 19:52, with Yigal Bruk assisting on both of his goals as York quickly built a 2-0 advantage.

York added a third goal at 24:52 when Ryan Robinson scored off an assist from James Fidalgo.

The Lions carried a 3-0 lead into halftime before adding two more goals in the second half. Luca Priolo scored at 56:20 with Christian Zeppieri providing the assist, followed by Nakye Greenidge-Duncan’s goal at 60:35, assisted by Priolo.

Algoma finally broke through at 71:20 when Calen Doobay scored his first goal of the season, with Luke Broadhurst earning the assist.

The goal provided the Thunderbirds with some momentum, but York held on for the 5-1 victory.

Morano finished with two shots and two goals, while Priolo recorded two shots and a goal. Robinson, Greenidge-Duncan, Sciortino, Bruk, Fidalgo and Matthew Fischer each recorded one shot.

For Algoma, Doobay finished with two shots and one goal, while Ivan Romanchak and Alessandro Cenedese each registered one.

Anthony Berganza made five saves on 10 York shots for the Thunderbirds. York used Michael Williams and Phil Roberts in goal.

Lions Finish Weekend With Another Five-Goal Performance
The Thunderbirds returned to Superior Heights on a cool, brisk Sunday afternoon hoping to close out the weekend with a victory.

Instead, York’s offence once again proved difficult to contain.

The Lions opened the scoring at the 45:00 mark when Matthew Medeiros scored his first goal of the season. Alessandro Troisi added another at 50:12, also recording his first goal of the campaign.

Christian Zeppieri continued his strong start to the season at 57:44, scoring his eighth goal of the season with Priolo picking up the assist.

York added two more goals late in the match. Jacob Gravina scored at 79:33 before Jaxon Grey found the net at 80:30, with Nakye Greenidge-Duncan earning the assist.

York’s five-goal performance secured another shutout victory and completed the men’s weekend sweep.

Medeiros, Zeppieri, Troisi, Gravina and Grey each scored once. Priolo finished with an assist, while Justin Cicchillo recorded two shots on goal. Robinson, Greenidge-Duncan, Sciortino, Cole Fernandez, Anthony Morano and Priolo each recorded one shot.

Algoma’s offensive chances were limited, with Calen Doobay, Elliot Swenarchuk and Nicholas Stefansson each registering one shot.

Peter Rogenthien handled the goalkeeping duties for Algoma, while Williams and Nick Potalivo shared the duties for York.

Thunderbirds Head Back on the Road
The September 19–20 weekend proved to be a difficult test for both Algoma soccer programs against two York teams that entered the weekend near the top of the OUA West Division.

The Algoma women were shut out in both games, falling 4-0 on Saturday and 3-0 on Sunday. The men’s team dropped a pair of contests by 5-1 scores and 5-0.

With the York weekend now behind them, both Thunderbirds programs will have an extended break before returning to OUA action on October 25 against the Brock Badgers.

The women will kick off at 6:00 p.m., followed by the men’s match at 8:15 p.m. Both Algoma teams will be looking to use the road matchup as an opportunity to get their first OUA victories of the 2026 season.