WATERLOO, Ont. - The Laurier Golden Hawks pushed for an equalizer until the closing minutes, but an early goal from Marisa Crane and a late finish from Miranda Preece gave the Western Mustangs a 2-0 win in Wednesday night's opening-round playoff match under the lights at Ansley Alumni Field.
Playing in front of a vocal home crowd, the fourth-seeded Golden Hawks created opportunities throughout the match but couldn't break through against Western goalkeeper Astrid Hancocks. The loss ended Laurier's season after a 5-4-3 regular-season record and fourth-place finish in the OUA West.
The matchup offered Laurier another opportunity against a Western team that had won their previous meeting 3-0 in London. The fifth-seeded Mustangs entered the postseason with three consecutive victories and carried that momentum into the opening minutes.
Laurier defended a series of early set pieces, with
Taya Johnson heading away a corner and the Golden Hawks blocking Western's attempts to find space inside the penalty area.
The Mustangs broke through in the eighth minute when Crane's header floated past Laurier goalkeeper
Mya Brodrecht, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Laurier responded quickly.
Genevieve Morgan found
Jessica Breda down the left side in the 10th minute, forcing Hancocks into a diving save to her right. Five minutes later,
Sienna Di Blasio played Morgan into a promising position, but Hancocks came forward to collect the ball before Morgan could connect.
Captain
Ashley Greco helped generate further pressure through set pieces. Her delivery from near midfield found
Kayla Merkley inside the penalty area, though Hancocks saved the header.
At the other end, Laurier's defence kept the deficit at one. Merkley and
Vanessa Bentrovato helped turn away consecutive Western corners, while Di Blasio,
Vanessa Dias and Johnson each made clearances to disrupt the Mustangs' attacks.
The Golden Hawks continued searching for an opening as halftime approached.
Annick Lariviere forced a corner in the 42nd minute, but Hancocks rose to collect Morgan's delivery. In the final seconds of the half, Johnson launched a long throw into the penalty area, where Merkley headed the ball toward Breda, whose attempt was saved.
Despite trailing 1-0 at the break, Laurier held a 7-2 shots advantage and a 3-2 edge in shots on target.
With drums and "Let's go Laurier!" chants carrying across the field, the Golden Hawks resumed their pursuit of an equalizer in the second half.
Grace Larsen headed Morgan's corner high and wide in the 49th minute before Brodrecht punched away a Western corner at the opposite end moments later.
Laurier came close again in the 61st minute. Lariviere worked down the right sideline and played the ball back to Di Blasio, whose cross found Greco for a powerful attempt that sailed just over the crossbar.
Johnson tested Hancocks with a shot on target in the 68th minute. Two minutes later,
Camila Blanco advanced down the left side and found
Sophia Morgan, whose attempt forced the Western goalkeeper into another diving stop.
The Golden Hawks continued sending balls into the penalty area, with Johnson's long throws and Di Blasio's service creating opportunities. Hancocks and the Mustangs' defence held firm, collecting crosses and clearing loose balls before Laurier could capitalize.
Western doubled its lead in the 81st minute. Preece won possession in Laurier's end, moved around Brodrecht and finished into the right side of the net to make it 2-0.
Laurier continued pressing through stoppage time. A late corner from
Genevieve Morgan brought the ball into a crowded penalty area, but the Golden Hawks were again denied as Hancocks protected the shutout.
The final whistle ended Laurier's comeback hopes. This result sends Western into a meeting with the top-seeded Guelph Gryphons, who finished the regular season undefeated.
For Laurier, the final whistle closed a season that included a fourth-place finish, a home playoff berth and a senior-night victory over York. It also marked the end of a campaign in which head coach
Barry MacLean celebrated his 30th year coaching Laurier soccer.
Although disappointed with the result, head coach
Barry MacLean reflected on the match, saying his team "started a bit sluggish and anxious to begin the game."
"At that point, they scored a goal, but then from the point of their goal until the end of the game I felt like we were the far superior team," MacLean said.
Reflecting on the team's season, MacLean had nothing but positive remarks.
"We have a team from the first player to the 29th player where they all care about each other, they all compete, they come to training, and they work hard every day. I couldn't be more proud of our team."
