WATERLOO, Ont. - The Laurier Golden Hawks women's soccer team closed out their regular season home schedule on a high note, earning a dominant 4–0 win over the Algoma Thunderbirds on Sunday afternoon at Ansley Alumni Field.

The match marked Senior Day, as Laurier recognized six graduating players for their dedication and leadership: Nicole Powell, Jada Johnson, Steph Geady, Noela Grant, Jyanessa Sealy, and Sasha Marikano.

With only one game remaining before the playoffs, the Hawks delivered a complete team performance to celebrate their seniors in style while also officially clinching a spot in the OUA playoffs. Who and when they play remains to be determined.

On this day though, Laurier immediately took control of the match through calm, organized play from their backline of Powell, Grant, and Vanessa Dias, who showed excellent ball control and composure to shift play and maintain possession.

The Hawks dominated territory early, earning multiple corner kicks through Ashley Greco and generating several scoring chances.

Their persistence paid off in the 23rd minute when Taya Johnson opened the scoring, finishing a precise setup from Sienna Di Blasio to give Laurier a 1-0 lead.

The Hawks continued to press and doubled their advantage in the 39th minute when senior Sasha Marikano converted a feed from Jessica Breda, sending Laurier into halftime up 2-0.

Laurier continued their high tempo into the second half with confident ball movement and sharp transitions.

Second-year midfielder Danielle Bortmes provided an immediate boost after entering the match, helping sustain Laurier's possession game.

In the 50th minute, Marikano struck again, this time assisted by Jada Johnson and Ashley Greco, extending the Hawks' lead to 3-0.

The home side kept pushing forward, with Jada Johnson nearly finding the net at the 68-minute mark as her shot rang off the post.

She didn't have to wait long to make her mark. In the 77th minute, Jada Johnson added Laurier's fourth goal of the afternoon, sealing the 4–0 victory.

After the match, senior forward Sasha Marikano reflected on her comeback and the team's strong finish.

"I'm just happy to break the ice after coming back," said Marikano. "It was really good to score with the girls again and get a win. This year has been really good for team chemistry, and if we carry that into the playoffs, we should do really well."

Team captain Jada Johnson also spoke on the emotional Senior Day moment.

"It feels surreal, it doesn't feel like I'm in fourth year already," Johnson shared. "I feel so blessed to be able to play with my best friends, and it has been an incredible experience. The atmosphere and vibes of the team are absolutely incredible every single game; everyone wants to work hard and play for each other. I could not be more grateful for how the chemistry has been this year."
 
Up Next:
The Golden Hawks (5-3-3) travel to Guelph to face the OUA West division-leading Gryphons (8-1-2) at Guelph Soccer Complex on Friday October 10. Gaining at least a point would go a long way as the team looks to secure home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Kick-off is at 6:00pm. Fans can also follow @WLUAthletics on X for live updates.