Mere days after York and McMaster were confirmed as the first and second-ranked teams in the country, the Lions claimed the season series with a 2-0 win in Toronto on Thursday.

The defending national champions had clawed back from a goal down at Ron Joyce Stadium just over a week ago, but needed no such struggle on home turf. Joey Cicchillo and Matt Stinson had goals for the Lions (3-0-1), who took sole control of first in the OUA West with the win.

Wasting no time in pushing forward, York enjoyed several quality scoring chances in the opening minutes of the match. Angelo Cavalluzzo was forced into a smart save, and watch another pair of shots whistle just wide of his goal as McMaster found themselves on their heels.

The Marauder goalkeeper shone yet again in the 41st minute, when he dove low to deny a Lions free kick and turn it around the post. Cavalluzzo could do little to preserve the clean sheet four minutes later, however, when York found space along the left wing and a cross met the head of Cicchillo, who drove it inside the near post for the night's opening goal in injury time.

McMaster immediately set out to erase the deficit in the second half, but met a second setback when the Lions were awarded a spot kick in the 59th minute. Stinson was calm and professional in slotting the penalty away and doubling the hosts' lead.

Urgency prevailed for the Marauders as the clock ticked away, and Sasha Ricciuti nearly made a game of things late in the half when a through ball found him in the box. But the striker missed his attempted half volley and his second effort was smothered by York keeper Colm Vance.

That would prove to be McMaster's best chance to break Vance's clean sheet, and the Marauders fell to the Lions for the second time this season.

There's little time for McMaster to brood about the result, however, as the Marauders return to action in three short days, travelling to St. Catharines to take on the Brock Badgers on Sunday, September 13.