WATERLOO, Ont. - A sunny late October day made for the best weather University Stadium has seen on football game day so far this season, and with a loud and raucous home crowd cheering them on, the #9 Golden Hawks seemed primed to pull off the Senior Day upset against #4 Queen's. 

A slow start and a few critical mistakes, however, proved to be the difference in what was a defensive battle, as the purple and gold dropped their final game of the regular season Saturday, 30-11. 

The Gaels offence looked strong on their first drive of the game, with quarterback Alex Vreeken making back-to-back long completions to get his team into field goal range. Three points was all Queen's would manage as Shomari Hutchinson made a nice tackle on a scrambling Vreeken to force the kick. 

Incredibly, that six-play outing by the Gaels would prove to be the longest drive of the first quarter, as both teams traded punts until just under three minutes left in the frame. Thanks to Dawson Hodge's punting prowess and some stout Golden Hawks defence, Queen's was forced to concede a safety rather than risk punting into the wind from their own endzone.  

Down 3-2 early in the second quarter, Laurier seemed to be getting hot on offence when Taylor Elgersma's pass was deflected by a Gaels defensive lineman and landed right in the hands of linebacker Sterling Seunarine for the interception.  

Queen's would then take the ball all the way down to the goal line with the wind at their backs, allowing Vreeken to sneak in from a yard out for the game's first touchdown. 

The next drive did not end any better for the Golden Hawks, as Tanner Nelmes fumbled the ball at the Laurier 25, leading to a Gaels field goal. 

Trailing 13-2 at halftime, the purple and gold looked determined to start the third quarter, getting into field goal range on the opening drive, though Hodge was unable to convert on the opportunity. 

Excellent defence allowed the offence to start just one yard shy of midfield their next time out, leading to another in a long list of beautiful touchdown passes from Taylor Elgersma this season. The quarterback found Ethan Jordan in the endzone from 40 yards out for his thirteenth major of the year. 

On the ensuing Queen's drive, the Golden Hawks defence forced a two-and-out and another conceded safety to cut the lead to 13-11. 

With the momentum seemingly shifting towards the home sideline, the Gaels were able to respond, putting together a well-executed drive as the third quarter ended, and leading to a 29-yard touchdown run from Jared Chisari early in the fourth. 

From there, the OUA's second-ranked Queen's defence went to work, forcing two-and-outs on the next two Laurier drives, between which Anthony Soles added another touchdown to push the game out of reach. 

"We didn't manufacture enough offensively," said Manager of Football Operations and Head Coach Michael Faulds. "We had some turnovers in the first half, which hurt us. We showed life in the third quarter and then had a couple of drives that just stalled around midfield... Maybe if those drives end in points we could have turned it around." 

Despite the loss, Faulds is optimistic heading into next week's playoff game. "The worst thing we can do is live in the sorrow," he said. "We've got to use that frustration, that little bit of anger that we have, and use that as motivation to come to work tomorrow and prepare for whoever comes in here next week and be a better version of ourselves." 

Fourth-year Patrick Burke Jr. seemed to already have embraced this mindset and teased a possible rematch with Queen's in the playoffs. "Nobody likes losing, but we'll see them again, and we'll get the last laugh." 

Before the game, the team's 18 graduating seniors were announced and walked onto the field with their families. They include Burke Jr., Connor Irwin-Lewis, Leo Hernandez, Taylor Stalkie, Alex Pigozzo, Nick Petermann, Cam Steinbach, Ben McAlpine, Ayo Ajayi, Nico McCarthy, Ryan Long, Shomari Hutchinson, Jordan Veltri, Damian Jamieson, Michael Asma, Abraham Odiase, James Fleurissaint, and Brandon Omonuwa.

When asked what he hopes his players take away from their time at Laurier, Faulds kept the emphasis off the field. 

"Teamwork, work ethic, accountability, all those things that we structure in a team environment will bold well for their family life and whatever profession they have in the future," he said. "It's less about the X's and O's and more about relationships." 

"The sense of community helps you a lot," echoed Burke Jr. "Whether it's with your academics or with sports, the crew always believes in you no matter what. There are times where you kind of doubt yourself, but everyone's pushing for you." 

TOP PERFORMERS 

Laurier Golden Hawks 

With his eight receptions and 109 yards today, Ethan Jordan finishes the season as the OUA leader in both categories, with 52 and 643 on the season, respectively. His five receiving touchdowns place him fourth in the conference.  

Queen's Gaels 

Part of Laurier's offensive struggles were due to pressure on Elgersma, who was sacked four times. Three of those came from defensive lineman Van Wishart, whose five sacks this season tie him for fifth best in the OUA. 

UP NEXT 

Following #10 Carleton's victory over Guelph, the Ravens have secured the fifth seed and will travel to Waterloo to face the Golden Hawks in round one of the OUA playoffs Saturday October 29 at 1 p.m.  

Tickets are on sale now.