WATERLOO, Ont. - In a hard-fought and intense playoff opener, Guelph edged out Laurier 6-5 in a dramatic penalty shootout after 120 minutes of scoreless action in regulation and extra time. 

Both teams came into the match with similar conference records — Laurier at 6-5-1 and Guelph at 5-3-4— and the play reflected these numbers, as neither side could break through during regulation or extra time despite their best efforts.

From the outset, the game was defined by its physicality and intensity. 

Laurier's Andrea Chiechi received the first yellow card at the 12:35 mark, signalling the start of a match that would see plenty of fouls and stoppages as both teams fought for control. 

Guelph, the #5 seed in the OUA West, and Laurier, the #4 seed, both provided a vocal presence on the field, with players frequently challenging decisions and pushing their limits. 

However, despite the constant back-and-forth, neither team could generate many meaningful scoring opportunities. The first half saw very few shots on the net and it ended in a 0-0 deadlock.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with both defences holding firm on both ends. 

In the 50th minute, Guelph's Osayuki Ibie was shown a yellow, followed by Laurier's Divraj Sandhu receiving one of his own. 

The fouls continued to disrupt the rhythm of the game, but neither team was able to capitalize on opportunities. 

Guelph and Laurier's defences held strong, effectively neutralizing offensive threats and sending the match into overtime at 0-0.

Extra time saw both teams ramp up their intensity even further, knowing the stakes were high. 

Laurier's Marco Frasca was shown the final yellow card of the game, as tempers flared and the physical play continued. 

Despite a few promising moments, neither side could find a breakthrough, and after 30 minutes of extra time, the match remained scoreless.

With no winner in open play, the game went to a penalty shootout, where the tension was palpable. 

In the end, it was Guelph edging out Laurier 6-5. The Golden Hawks had one attempt saved while both teams hit the cross-bar, with Leo Takahashi's deflection setting up Vahan Sargsyan's conversion to advance Guelph to the next round of the playoffs.

Despite being eliminated from postseason contention, Laurier men's soccer head coach Mario Halapir expressed how proud he was of his team on this day and throughout the season. 

"The team came out to play and, even though they had some tough battles in the first half of the game, I was content with how they played after halftime and in the penalty shootout. 

"We came a long way since the start of the season."