Taking on the No. 1 York Lions in the OUA semifinals for the third consecutive season, the No. 5 nationally ranked University of Toronto Varsity Blues will be looking to upset the defending CIS champions this Saturday, November 5 at Birchmount Stadium. 
 
Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. All games are scheduled to take place at Birchmount Stadium and be streamed live on OUA.tv.
 
The second OUA semifinal features the Guelph Gryphons and host Ryerson Rams. Should the Gryphons defeat the Rams in semi-final action, the winner of the bronze-medal match would earn a spot at the national tournament, hosted by Guelph November 10-13. If the Gryphons fall to Ryerson, the two teams in the gold-medal match will automatically advance to the national stage.
 
The Varsity Blues secured their spot in the OUA Final Four by defeating the Carleton Ravens for the second time in eight days this past weekend in OUA quarter-final action.
 
Meanwhile, the Lions earned their place with a convincing 3-0 OUA quarter-final victory over the Western Mustangs, maintaining their undefeated season posting a 14-0-2 (W-L-D) record this year.
 
For U of T, a host of strong midfielders have been the difference in Toronto's late season run to the OUA Final Four. 
 
Fourth-year midfielder Nikolay Saveliev secured an assist on the Blues opening goal before scoring the game-winner in the quarter-finals; second-year midfielder Harry Michelis scored the lone goal in Toronto's regular season finale victory over the Ravens; and fourth-year captain Lukas MacNaughton has served as a defensive midfielder this season while also leading the Blues with seven goals. MacNaughton's offensive punch included three goals over U of T's final two-game road trip, which featured a win over the previously undefeated OUA final Four host Ryerson Rams.
 
As for York, the Lions have been paced by a strong pair of offensive minded players in midfielder Cristian Cavallini and striker Milan Beader. Cavallini finished tied for third in OUA goals this season with 11, including a five-game stretch from September 30 to October 16 where the creative first-year standout registered seven goals. In the postseason Beader made his mark scoring two goals in the Lions shutout effort over the Mustangs, including the game-winner.
 
2016 OUA Final Four Schedule
Birchmount Stadium
 
Saturday, November 5
12:00pm Toronto vs York
3:00pm   Guelph vs Ryerson
 
Sunday, November 5
12:00pm Bronze Medal Match
3:00pm   Gold Medal Match
 
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