The Western Mustangs women's lacrosse team continued their strong season, winning their sixth and seventh straight over Toronto and McMaster at the University of Toronto on the weekend.

In the first game against McMaster, the Mustangs prevailed 20-6. Senior midfielder Nicole Pullen led the way with five goals and one assist, while Lauren Crape had a seven-point outing on four goals and three assists.

Emmi Morris (2G, 1A), Kristen Stafford (2G, 1A), Betty Turowec (2G), Adrianna Clapp (2G), Rebecca Watson (1G), Ali Childs (1G) and Larissa Boychuk (1G) rounded out the scoring.

Western got the quick start they were looking for  with Crape scoring under two minutes into the game, starting a 6-0 run in the first 13 minutes. 

The Mustangs led 14-3 lead into the half. 

Morris started the second half scoring a pair of quick goals.

The Western defence kept the McMaster offence at bay, limiting them to three goals per half. Netminder Cait Mancuso stopped 12 shots for the victory. 

"We wanted to get a quick start and we did," said Mustangs head coach Dave Hastings. "It was a strong offensive effort with good transition and midfield play. Again, we saw good balanced scoring with seven different goal-scorers on the first eight goals."

"Some teams might think we are a one- or two-women offence, but I think many of our players have a scoring touch and it showed today."

In the second game, Western defeated Toronto 14-9, led by Turowec's four-point effort (3G, 1A).
Stafford, Boychuk and Childs added two goals each, while Carrie White, Morris, Kelsey Crean, Clapp, Crape added singles. Skylar Powless had one assist.

Once again, Western came out quickly, building a 4-1 lead. Toronto got within two goals, but Western closed the half on another 4-1 run to take a 8-4 lead into the half. 

Toronto came out strong in the first six minutes to pull within one goal, at 8-7, but Western’s defence beared down at the nine-minute mark and the Mustangs regained the four-goal lead at 11-7 and held on to win. 

As Western slowed the play down in the last nine minutes to control the play, Toronto ran into penalty trouble and Western was able to capitalize and wind out the clock for the 14-9 win.

Mancuso made 14 saves in the Mustangs' cage.

"I was impressed with Toronto’s ball movement in the midfield," Hasting said. "They made things difficult for us, but the team was able to hold defensively and our ball movement and team speed allowed us to put the ball in the back of their net."

Ten different players, including three defenders, registered goals.

"We made some errors today, but I think we learned a lot from this game and will be preparing hard next week," Hastings said. 

Western plays Toronto, Laurier and UOIT on the final weekend of play before the Mustangs host the OUA Championships at Citywide Fields in London, Oct. 29-31.