KINGSTON, Ont. - In a thrilling rematch of last season's OUA semi-final upset by the Golen Hawks, Laurier and Queen's reunited at Nixon Field in Kingston for a showdown that left spectators on the edge of their seats. History didn't repeat itself though, as the Gaels narrowly defeated the purple and gold, 25-19.
The game kicked off with a vengeance, as the Gaels' Dan Suboda wasted no time, seizing the opportunity and scoring the opening try a mere 4 minutes and 51 seconds into the first half. James Webb added the two-point convert.
Just under nine minutes later, a penalty close to the Queen's end provided the perfect setup for Laurier's
Josh Tinney, who took advantage and effortlessly secured a try to get his team on the board.
Adam McNee's conversion evened the score at seven apiece.
The seesaw battle continued, with James Webb showcasing his kicking prowess at the 23-minute mark, nudging Queen's back into the lead at 10-7 with a pinpoint penalty kick.Â
Laurier, undeterred, demonstrated their mettle just five minutes later. Executing a series of quick, precise passes off a throw-in, Dylan DiGirolamo bulldozed his way to the try line, propelling Laurier ahead 12-10.
As the first half drew to a close, Queen's Marcus D'Acre demonstrated exceptional speed and skill, concluding a 15-yard dash after receiving a wide pass. This crucial play bolstered the Gaels' lead to 18-12 at halftime.
The second half saw no shortage of action either. In the 68th minute, Queen's Allister Poulos pulled off a nice maneuver, receiving a pass and embarking on a 20-yard dash to notch another try, expanding his team's lead to 25-12.
Laurier, determined to claw their way back, got a hard-fought run from
Ben Foote four minutes later to set the stage for
Adam McNee's try, narrowing the gap to 25-19. Yet, despite their valiant efforts, it would prove to be as close as the Golden Hawks would come.
With this result, Laurier now stands at 1-2 for the season.
Looking ahead, the Golden Hawks will return to the familiar confines of University Stadium for their next clash against the York Lions. Kick-off is slated for 3:30 pm next Saturday and admission is free.
