Box Score The offensive struggles continued for the Warriors on Sunday afternoon as they dropped a 5-2 contest to the York Lions at the Canlan Ice Sports centre in Toronto.

Lisa Stathopulos of the Lions scored the game's third goal, which stood up as the winner, and added another late in the third period for her fourth goal of the season, matching the total she put up last year.

Despite early offensive pressure by the Lions, it was the Warriors who put themselves on the board first. Thanks to some very tricky stick dekes, Nicole Ballantyne (Toronto/) was able to break free from the Lions' defence and beat York goalie Megan Lee (Orillia, Ont.) through the five-hole at just 1:33 of the first period. Kelly Toms (Ennismore/) and Lia Tennant (Kitchener/) were credited with assists on the play.

The Lions were able to draw even off of an offensive zone faceoff, as Victoria Benacquista (Keswick, Ont.) won the faceoff, drawing it back to defender Megan Finlay (Hamilton, Ont.), whose point shot blast set up the rebound goal for Kim Ramcharan (Brampton, Ont.) at 4:22 of the period.

The Lions continued to keep the Warriors stuck mostly in their own zone, frustrating the opposition and forcing turnovers.

A critical interception by Lisa Stathopulos (Toronto) punished Waterloo for its careless rush passing, as she was able to break clear of the last defender for a breakaway that saw her beat Warrior goalie Rebecca Bouwhuis (Orillia/) to give the Lions the lead at 8:20 of the first period.

Kristen Barbara (Mount Hope, Ont.) managed to increase the Lions' lead with a power play goal, blasting a slap shot from the point that was too heavy for Bouwhuis to stop, as it trickled through her pads and over the goal line at 12:02 of the period.

The Lions held the 3-1 lead at the end of the first.

The Warriors brought themselves to within one less than five minutes into the second frame, with Katie Dods (Kemptville/) beating a heavily screened Lee on the glove side with a surprise wrist shot from the faceoff dot. Kelly MacLean (St. George/) and Tennant were given the assists on Dods' second of the season.

The tone of the game changed with the second Warrior goal, as both teams focused on physically grinding the other down. Special teams became a critical factor, as York's penalty kill unit was called into action three times in the second frame.

York special teams continued to make the Warriors pay, scoring another power play goal at 5:54 of the final frame. Erin Cameron (Ajax, Ont.) found a rebound on the doorstep and fired it into the empty net to give York a 4-2 lead.

The Lions' lead was again extended on another heroic effort from Stathopulos, who scored a shorthanded goal after an extended and physical race with a Warrior defender. Stathopulos was able to beat the defender to the puck, break free with it and cram the puck through the pads of Bouwhuis to score her second unassisted goal of the night at 14:26 of the last period.

Lee made just 16 saves in the outing, thanks to the strong play of the York defence. Her counterpart, Bouwhuis, made 23 saves on the 28 shots she faced, including a thrilling low glove save in the first that stunned the Lions' power play and brought the entire crowd to a standing cheer.

With the loss Waterloo's record dropped to 1-3-2 on the season as they look to reverse their fortune next Friday against the Laurier Golden Hawks.  Puck drop is set for 7:30pm at the CIF arena.