WINDSOR, Ont. - It came down to the final whistle, but Laurier's women's soccer team is headed back to the postseason for a second straight year after a 1-1 draw at Windsor in their regular season finale on Saturday afternoon.
Laurier started strong at Alumni Stadium, dominating possession from the opening whistle and creating several early opportunities.
The breakthrough came in the 14th minute when
Samantha Murphy scored her team-leading sixth goal of the season on a nice left-footed finish.
The goal came off a precise assist from
Sasha Marikano, who delivered a well-timed pass that allowed Murphy to slot the ball past Windsor's goalkeeper.
Laurier's early lead put Windsor on the back foot as they struggled to gain control of the game.
The Golden Hawks continued to dictate play throughout the first half, slowing the tempo to maintain their advantage. Laurier's disciplined passing and midfield control kept Windsor pinned in their half, limiting their chances to equalize before the break.
Despite their dominance, Laurier couldn't extend their lead and went into halftime with a narrow 1-0 advantage.
The second half saw Windsor come out with renewed energy, and their persistence paid off when Avery Comartin struck just eight minutes in, netting her fifth goal of the season.
Comartin's equalizer shifted the momentum, but both teams struggled to create significant chances in the match, characterized by careful, measured play rather than aggressive attacks.
With the pace slowing down again, neither side could break the deadlock in the closing minutes. Laurier continued to hold the majority of possession but lacked the final pass to unlock Windsor's defense.
Laurier's
Taya Johnson and Windsor's Faith Akinkuade ended up in the referees book in the 66th and 87th minutes, with each getting a yellow card.
The result left Laurier's final record at 3-5-4 for the season, finishing in the sixth and final playoff spot in the OUA West division.
It sets up a trip to Hamilton on Saturday night to take on the #3-seed McMaster in the first round divisional match-up. Kick-off at Ron Joyce Stadium is scheduled for 7 pm.
The winner will move on to face the #2-seed Guelph Gryphons on Wednesday, October 23.
Catch all the action live on OUA.tv
