WATERLOO, Ont. – Laurier's men's soccer team struck early but ultimately fell 4–2 to the Brock Badgers in a spirited and aggressive OUA men's soccer matchup on Sunday afternoon at Ansley Alumni Field.
Laurier wasted no time making their mark, as midfielder
Leonardo Takahashi opened the scoring in just the second minute, giving the Hawks an early spark and momentum with this second tally of the season.
Brock answered midway through the half when Chris Yeboah capitalized on a chance to even the score.
Laurier responded quickly, with captain
Sam Ghouli burying a penalty kick in the 37th minute to restore the Golden Hawks' lead.
The Hawks carried a 2–1 advantage into halftime after goalkeeper
David Carano came up with key saves to steady the back line.
The second half, however, swung in Brock's favour. Carano denied a penalty kick from Gabriel Tardif in the 53rd minute to keep Laurier ahead temporarily, but the Badgers pressed forward and found their breakthrough shortly after.
Yeboah notched his second of the game in the 63rd minute, followed just two minutes later by a strike from Tiago Pereira, turning the tide and pushing Brock ahead 3–2.
Laurier fought to respond, generating pressure through set pieces and wide play, but Brock's attack stayed relentless.
The Badgers sealed the result in the 88th minute when Tardif converted on an assist from Luca Danesi, securing a 4–2 victory.
After the match, Laurier assistant coach Luke Holder praised his team's effort despite the result.
"It was a tough game. We played to our strengths. We could have taken the game a little further, and it was unfortunate," Holder said. "The penalty save from David was a big help and a stand-out play. All in all, the boys worked hard, and we have to build on it for next week."
The match was marked by physical, aggressive play, with both sides earning multiple cards and testing each other's composure.
Despite the loss, Laurier showed flashes of creativity and resilience, highlighted by Takahashi's early goal, Ghouli's confident finish from the spot, and Carano's crucial penalty save.
Up Next:
The Golden Hawks (1-2-1) take on the Waterloo Warriors (4-0) in the Battle of Waterloo derby on Friday, September 12 at Warrior Field. Kick-off is at 8:15 p.m.
