London, ON - The Mustangs played host to the Laurier Golden Hawks today at Mustangs Field in a game that would decide who progresses to the next round of the playoffs. 
 
Laurier gained possession early on in the game with a shot on goal in the 5^th minute of the game which was caught by Samantha St. Croix in goal for Western. 
 
A free kick for Western was taken by number 14, Reese Fowler. The ball was sent into the box and headered into the goalie's arms by Western. 
 
A penalty kick for Laurier was taken by number 27, Tamara Lisser but went wide left, resulting in a goal kick. 
 
In the 13^th minute of the game, Mackenzie Bilotta crossed a ball into the box and found the back of Laurier's net putting the team up one goal early on in the game. 
 
The Mustangs maintained the pressure on the Golden Hawks by keeping possession in Laurier's half of the pitch. 
 
A corner for Western sent the ball into the box in the 23^rd minute of the game. Both Mackenzie Bilotta and Natalie Abbate made passes to keep the ball in the box but it was sent wide right of the goal. 
 
Laurier took a shot on goal a few moments later in the 36^th minute of the game but the ball went high. Reese Fowler then sent a long shot into the box but it was caught by the goalie. 
 
Possession was maintained by Western in the last few minutes of the game with the two teams going into halftime with 1-0 to Western. 
 
The Mustangs put the pressure on Laurier early on in the second half with Western pushing towards the Golden Hawks' goal but sending the ball out of bounds leading to a goal kick. 
 
Mackenzie Bilotta took a shot on goal in the 54^th minute but it was saved by Taya Johnson. Maddy Skinner would then take another shot on goal two minutes later but it was saved again by Johnson. 
 
The Golden Hawks worked to maintain more possession in the second half of the game, making progress up the field which was halted by the Mustangs' defence. 
 
A free kick for Western with 13 minutes to go was sent out by Medina Birani. The ball was then sent back in again only for Western promptly send it back out to ensure no goals were conceded.
 
Laurier made sure to maintain the pressure on Western into the final few moments of the game. Sasha Marikano sent a shot towards St. Croix in the 88^th minute but it was saved. Marikano sent another shot towards Western's goal a minute later but had no luck finding the back of the net. 
 
In overtime, Western made sure to maintain possession and kept the pressure on Laurier but ended the game with a 1-0 score on the board. The Mustangs were able to not concede any goals and move into the next round of the playoffs. 
 
After the game, Head Coach Martin Painter explained that it was a "very difficult game. Laurier had a good game plan, really well organized team and that made things difficult for us. I think we were a little bit nervous, and it was a battle from the start to the finish. We had a really good goal, well executed and, you know, defended well. At the end of the day we are moving forward but we know we can play better." 
 
When asked about looking ahead to next game if there was anything the team was focusing on, Coach Painter noted that "I think, we don't have concerns. We are excited. We're hosting an OUA semi-final. There are only two teams in the province that have that opportunity and we are one of them. So, we are just excited, and we are going to go out and just have our best game of the season on Wednesday."