LONDON, Ont. - The Laurier Golden Hawks' string of bad luck against Western continued on Saturday afternoon, after a 4-1 road loss to the Mustangs - their third consecutive defeat to their dividsional foe. 

Third-year veteran Tyler Fassl (Sauble Beach, Ont.) got his first start of the season and managed 30 saves on 33 shots, including a beauty in the second, to keep the game within one as the Mustangs pressed.

Both teams came out strong in the first period as they exchanged chances and zone time for the opening 19 minutes. Laurier drew a goaltender interference penalty mid-frame but could not garner any chances as Western’s penalty kill thwarted most opportunities.

With only 1:11 to go in the period, center Michael Silveri got caught in the neutral zone on a cross-check. Wasting no time, Westerns powerplay, which sits second in all of U SPORTS, capitalized immediately off the ensuring face-off to take a 1-0 lead into the intermission.

Laurier managed to outshoot their opponent to start the game for the third straight contest, with a 13-10 advantage after 20 minutes of play.

Silveri would make up for his late period mistake with an early goal in the second. The goal went unassisted as he cleaned up the garbage in front.

Shortly after the equalizer, Western was handed a boarding infraction, giving Laurier the opportunity to build on their momentum. However, Shane Bulitka (Ilderton, Ont.) would catch the defence flat-footed and go in all alone on Fassl to give the Mustangs the lead back with a shorthanded goal.

After the go-ahead goal, Western controlled the game and maintained sustained pressure on the forecheck. Laurier could not contain the attack with a sequence of saves and a tired defensive corps, as the Mustangs extended their lead to 3-1 in the middle of the period.

A last-minute too-many-men call would slow any chance for a Laurier comeback and put the Golden Hawks short-handed to start the third. Thankfully, the penalty kill kept the Mustangs to the outside and cleared the puck to limit chances.

Moments later, Laurierfound themselves a man-down for the third time in the game on a slashing penalty. But, again, the Laurier penalty kill played strong and slowed Western’s play, ending the night with a 2-for-3 success rate.

Western would then let tempers flare as they drew three straight penalties to end the game. However, Laurier could not muster any chance, as the Mustangs shut the door defensively. This was exemplified by a shorthanded empty-net goal by Bulitka with 1:24 left to seal the deal for Western.

Laurier is now 0-3 on the season against Western and will look to get in the win column against the Mustangs in the New Year with another home-and-home on January 27 and 29.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

Laurier
C - Michael Silveri
The fourth-year Kin./Phys Ed. major tied the game early in the second with his third goal of the season, surpassing his total from the 2019/20 season.

Western
C - Shane Bulitka
A newscomer this season, he scored the game-winning goal in the second period on a shorthanded breakaway for his first goal of the season and topped it off with another shorthanded goal on the empty-netter to seal the victory.

NEXT UP
Laurier (2-4) has a bye week and will be back in action at home on December 2 against the Guelph Gryphons (2-1-1). Get your tickets today or catch the game live on OUA.tv