LONDON, Ont. - Laurier midfielder Niklas Bauer scored twice, including a late goal in the second half as the Western Mustangs fell to the Golden Hawks 2-1 at Mustangs Field on Sunday afternoon.

Neither team moved in the standings as a result of this game, with Western remaining in fifth place in the West, and Laurier holding a one point lead over McMaster for third place heading into the final week of the season.

There was heavy rain to begin the first half, but that didn't prevent either team from generating offence. Bauer scored early in the game, getting behind the defence and collecting his own rebound after his initial shot attempt was saved. After trying to get the offence going with slow build-up play early on, the Mustangs began pushing the ball up the field and finally broke through when midfielder Rudy James headed in a cross from Amad El-Houni. The goal was Western's first in two games after being held in check by the Warriors on Saturday.

"We were a lot crisper today," said Mustangs striker Christian Douglas about his team's offensive execution on Sunday. "We moved the ball quickly at times, and that's when we found those openings that we believe we should be getting every game."

The rain subsided and the sun began to come out as the second half got under way, but the goals didn't immediately follow. The Mustangs tallied six of their eight shots and earned three corner kicks in the second half, but couldn't convert their attempts into goals.

Mustangs head coach Rock Basacco was pleased with the effort nonetheless: "The guys came out and played really strong today," he explained after the game. "Have to give credit to our guys, they didn't stop playing right to the last whistle. We did create some chances, it's just a story of being able to finish them."

Bauer scored his second goal of the game with 16 minutes to go, which turned out to be the winner as Laurier held off Western's late game push to earn the win.

The Mustangs and Golden Hawks may play again this season, with a potential first round playoff matchup a possibility. "We'll have to look at the game film, and decide what are the things that we'll have to work on when we play them again" coach Basacco said about a possible playoff matchup with Laurier.

Western will be back in action Thursday, October 20, at 6:00 p.m. when they take on the Gryphons at the Soccer Complex in Guelph.