WATERLOO, Ont. - The Laurier Golden Hawks pushed the pace and created several quality chances, but ultimately came up short in a second consecutive 2–1 loss to the McMaster Marauders on Sunday afternoon.

McMaster came out firing, registering a shot on goal in the opening seconds before breaking through in the 11th minute, when Shalagh Guha headed home a cross from Jade Abreo.

Laurier responded with strong ball movement and possession, and the pressure paid off in the 26th minute as Taya Johnson delivered a well-placed strike to level the score.

The Golden Hawks continued to attack, with Tamara Lisser nearly finding the back of the net late in the half, but McMaster regained the lead just before the break on a goal from Mea Martel, making it 2–1.

The second half brought even more intensity, as Laurier midfielder Sasha Marikano worked tirelessly up the field, while Sienna Di Blasio drove the attack with energy.

Nicole Powell, returning to action, added a spark off the bench.

The Hawks generated multiple scoring opportunities, including dangerous shots from Ashley Greco, Lisser, and Noella Grant, but McMaster goalkeeper Lucy Duffy stood tall to preserve the lead.

As the tension rose in the closing minutes, Laurier pressed hard with corners and long-range efforts but couldn't find the equalizer.

The team's fourth straight loss overall dropped the purple and gold to fifth in the OUA West standings, one point ahead of Brock and York tied for sixth on 11 points.

Laurier head coach Barry MacLean praised his team's effort, saying "both games were super competitive right until the end."

He also noted the importance of returning players, adding, "It's good to have Sasha and Nicole back in the lineup. We're going to be tougher to deal with now that those two are back."

On the players' side, Taya Johnson emphasized how Laurier's identity is holding firm.

"We're connected as a team and definitely resilient," Johnson said. "We had really good moments pressing and getting through them, but when we fell off, we got punished. We just have to make sure we play the full 90 the same way."

Up Next:
The Laurier Golden Hawks (3-3-3) take on the last-place Algoma Thunderbirds (0-8) on Saturday, October 4. Kickoff is at 1:00 pm at Ansley Alumni Field, and admission is free.

Fans can also follow @WLUAthletics on X for live updates.