London, ON – The Mustangs women's soccer team kicked off their home schedule with a 1-0 win over Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks Friday night.
 
Western controlled much of the first half pressure outshooting Laurier 8-2. The Mustangs had multiple scoring chances but weren't able to convert.
 
"I think it's a very tough division, Laurier is a very good team and that's what we should expect for the next 11 games," said Martin Painter, Mustangs Head Coach. "There's no weak team in our division and every game is going to be a battle"
 
Nearing the 58^th minute the Mustangs made a drive to the Laurier net and got clear shot, but Golden Hawks goaltender Stephanie Brooks made a point-blank save to keep the game tied at 0-0.
 
With just under a minute left in regulation time, the Golden Hawks Brianna Bishop took a shot in close, but it was snagged out of the air by Mustangs goaltender Megan Girardi.
 
Mustangs center Giulia Girardo, fresh off a 4 game weekend where she was named OUA & U SPORTS female athlete of the week had 3 shots on goal in the game including 2 off the crossbar.
 
 In extra time the Mustangs were finally able to crack the scoreboard when Sabine Gilles-Hardy was able to chip the ball around the Laurier goaltender and in for the lone goal of the game.
 
"I had a wide-open space, I was just screaming Giulias name, she passed it and the goalie dropped it and I tapped it in," Gilles-Hardy said of the winning goal. "It felt amazing to score that after 90 minutes of a hard game, it was awesome."
 
With the win, the Mustangs move to 3&0 in the early part of the season.
 
"Over the course of 90 minutes I think we moved the ball well, got the ball in a lot of dangerous positions, Laurier defended well and it was tough to break them down," said Painter  
 
The Mustangs now head to McMaster on Sunday at Ron Joyce Stadium for a 1 pm game start.