Late goal lifts Golden Hawks over Mustangs

(Photo Credit: Heather Davidson)

WATERLOO Ont. (October 8, 2014) - The No. 7 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks women's soccer team started their three game home stand when they welcomed the No. 8 Western Mustangs to town. With major playoff implications and first place in the division up for grabs, the game was intense from the start. Laurier was able to score a late goal to take the match 3-2 at University Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

The Hawks entered the game only needing a win to past Western for first place in the division, but it did not start off well. Miscommunication on the Golden Hawks' back line led to Western getting on the board first in the 32nd minute thanks to OUA leading scorer, Amanda Boyle of Vaughan, Ont. However, it did not take long for Laurier to respond.

Three minutes later, last year's OUA leading scorer Emily Brown of Waterloo, Ont., evened the game up with her 60th career goal. With the goal, Emily ended a four game scoreless drought and evened the score at one going into halftime.

Just as the second half was underway, Boyle scored her second of the game to push the Mustangs lead back up to one.

After the goal Laurier would start pouring on the pressure. The Golden Hawks outshot the Mustangs nine to five in the second half. It wasn't until the 64th minute when Laurier would even up the game off the foot of midfielder Julie Maheu of Oakville, Ont., from a set piece.

With the motivation of beating the team that gave them their only lost of the season, the Hawks were hungry to find the back of the net again late in the game. In the 84th minute Laurier found the go-ahead marker as Maheu put in her second goal to push the Golden Hawks past the Mustangs 3-2.

With the win, the now 10-1-2 Laurier Golden Hawks are tied for first place in the OUA West division with the York Lions. Meanwhile, the loss drops the 10-2-1 Western Mustangs to third place.

The Golden Hawks, now unbeaten in 10 straight games, look to continue their winning ways as they host their crosstown rivals the Waterloo Warriors. The last time the Hawks lost to the Warriors at home was back in 2005 and Laurier will look to continue this streak Friday evening. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at University Stadium.

Source: Laurier Golden Hawks