Laurier Athletics - Waterloo Campus

LONDON, Ont. – Two goals late in the first half helped the Western Mustangs defeat the Laurier Golden Hawks 3-0 on Saturday afternoon in London.

Coming off a victory over their crosstown rivals, the Waterloo Warriors, the Golden Hawks created several opportunities but were unable to find the net against Western goalkeeper Astrid Hancocks. 

Jessica Breda tested Hancocks in the sixth minute after attacking down the left side, but her shot lacked the power to beat the goalkeeper. 

Breda put another attempt on target in the 23rd minute as both teams searched for an opening goal. 

Laurier continued applying pressure through a series of corner kicks. In the 36th minute, Ashley Greco delivered a corner into the penalty area, where Taya Johnson connected with a header that Hancocks saved. 

The teams traded chances as halftime approached. Greco fired a shot just wide of the left post in the 39th minute before Western's Hannah Ouellette sent a long pass to Sophia Saville, who moved past Laurier goalkeeper Mya Brodrecht but missed left of the open net. 

Saville converted her next opportunity in the 42nd minute, working past  Laurier defender Taya Johnson and finishing to Brodrecht's left to give Western a 1-0 lead. 

Brodrecht made a diving save on another Saville attempt in the 44th minute, but the Mustangs doubled their advantage in first-half stoppage time. Emily Foster found Marisa Crane, whose high shot got past Brodrecht's outstretched hands to send Western into halftime ahead 2-0. 

Western held a 6-4 advantage in shots and a 4-2 edge in shots on goal at the break, while Laurier earned five corner kicks to the Mustangs' one. 

The Golden Hawks looked to respond early in the second half, earning two corner kicks within the opening eight minutes. Western also continued threatening, with Saville striking the crossbar in the 55th minute. 

Laurier created another opportunity in the 60th minute when Annick Lariviere delivered a cross from the right side, but the Golden Hawks were unable to connect. 

Substitute Aaliyah Spence sent a shot wide of the right post five minutes later. 

Brodrecht kept Laurier within reach with several second-half stops, coming forward to steal a chance in the 68th minute before making another save in the 71st. She then turned aside a high shot from Jacqueline Brown in the 78th minute. 

Laurier responded with an opportunity at the other end moments later, but Hancocks saved Genevieve Morgan's low shot from inside the penalty area. 

Western extended its lead in the 85th minute when Amelia Schepp received a pass near the right post and slipped the ball past Brodrecht to make it 3-0. 

The Golden Hawks continued pushing through the closing minutes. In stoppage time, Lariviere crossed to Spence, whose shot was deflected away from the net by a Western defender. 

Western finished with an 11-9 advantage in shots and an 8-4 edge in shots on goal. Hancocks made four saves to earn the shutout, while Brodrecht recorded five saves for Laurier. 

Laurier is still in a position to host a playoff game at Ansley Alumni Field, as they're currently slotted in fourth in the OUA West with two games left in the season. 

Up Next: 

The Laurier Golden Hawks (4-3-3) return to Ansley Alumni Field for Senior Night and their final home game of the regular season against the York Lions (8-2-1) on Friday, October 16. 

Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.  Read Full Article