Box Score London, ON - The Western Mustangs took on the McMaster Marauders in a game that would determine who took home the bronze medal in the OUA playoffs. The win for the Mustangs means that the team will go on to Nationals next week where they will play Laval in the first round on Thursday, 
 
Western gained possession of the ball early in the first couple of minutes making solid passes between players, providing a preview into what the rest of the game would look like. 
 
A corner for Western in the 5^th minute of the game was sent out of the box by McMaster, resulting in another corner which ended up hitting the post. 
 
A free kick for McMaster came at the end of the 6^th minute which was sent towards the goal by the Marauders but caught by Samantha St. Croix in goal for Western.
 
Western maintained possession, making progress up the far side of the field over the next couple of minutes. 
 
In the 26^th minute of the game, Maya Lankin sent the ball down the field, allowing Alessia Breda to chase after it and after going into a one-on-one with McMaster's goalkeeper, was able to maneuverer the ball past them and send it into the back of their net. 
 
A free kick in the 36^th minute of the game was taken by Reese Fowler. The ball was sent into to the box but was sent high by Hannah Vickers. 
 
The teams went into half-time with 1-0 on the scoreboard to the Mustangs. 
 
The Mustangs maintained the pressure that they had been putting on the Marauders all game from the start of the second half. Three minutes into the second half, Medina Birani sent the ball into the box but the ball was not able to find the back of the net. 
 
A few minutes later Maya Lankin took a shot on goal which was saved by Ali Mudie in goal for McMaster. Less than a minute later, Ravina Braich took a shot at the Mustang's goal only for that to go wide. 
 
In the 54^th minute of the game, a diving save from St. Croix was required to prevent the Mustangs from conceding any goals after a corner shot was sent into the box and promptly headered by the Marauders towards the Mustangs' goal. 
 
McMaster came into the second half maintaining more possession than they had had previously had in the first half, but Western's defense was solid – not letting any goals in. Avarie Thomas was instrumental at halting the Marauder's progress up the field.  
 
Another shot on goal in the 66^th minute by McMaster's Georgia Merriman was saved by Samantha St. Croix. 
 
Western were able to extend their lead in the game with another goal by Natalie Abbate in the 73^rd minute of the game assisted by Reese Fowler. 
 
McMaster would go on to have four more shot attempts in the rest of the half, but all unsuccessful at getting past St. Croix. The final statistic on shot attempts by the two teams was 11 shots by McMaster to 5 from Western, a testament to St. Croix's solid defending of the goal. 
 
Despite making progress towards Western's goal in the end of the second half, their progress was halted by the Mustangs' defense making the game end in a 2-0 victory for the Mustangs. 
 
Speaking after the game with Head Coach Martin Painter, he explained that "it feels great. It was a very tough game today – credit to McMaster, I think they came with a really good game plan and made things difficult for us but to win today, a very special feeling for the group and I think something over the course of the season that we deserved, to be at nationals, and now we've got to go and make a good count for ourselves there."
 
He went on to note that "there's no easy draw at nationals, credit to Laval. Laval is obviously the top team in Quebec, that's a big, big challenge but the eight teams that are in nationals are all great teams and you know we said this from day one of the season that we are confident no matter who we are playing. It's about ourselves and going out and being the best version of ourselves that we can and enjoying the time and I think we'll be ready for Thursday."
 
On the two goals scored by Western in the game, Painter went on to explain "both very good goals. The first goal, I thought we started the game well and it's like when you get that momentum, you need to get the goal that I thought we deserved and it was just a good play, won the ball in the flank, great pass by Maya Lankin and Alessia, showed her speed to get them behind and composure to finish so that was a great goal and the second goal, great work to win the free kick, great delivery, great header, great movement – two fantastic goals." 
 
When speaking to Natalie Abbate after the game she explained she felt "fantastic – this is my last game on this field, and it couldn't have ended in a better way. Hadn't scored a goal all season, this is my first season as a center back and it just feels so good to see the ball go in the back of the net and for this to be a team win because this team is unbelievable. We've been working so hard together for the last three seasons, and we just grow every single game." When taking us through the goal, Abbate noted that "actually it's hilarious. Our player, Angelica she usually goes back post by Marty said to set it up like a corner which meant that this game I was supposed to start on the goalkeeper. So, I was running towards the goalkeeper and my defender left me alone because she was confused as to what I was doing, and I was like 'no I have to go back post' because the girl who usually goes back post is on the bench and so I ended up going back post and Reese hit a beautiful ball." 
 
Looking ahead to Nationals, Abbate further went on to say "nationals – most of this team knows what Nationals tastes like and we just wanted it so, so bad and it didn't go our way on Wednesday that's alright. I was so, so proud of everyone that played today and all of our team that was standing in the bleachers and on the bench. It takes a whole team – coaching staff, everybody. Trainers, everyone."

In addition to winning the Bronze Medal at the OUA Championships, several of the women on the team were named OUA All-Stars in the Women (West Division):

First Team All-Stars

Defender – Avarie Thomas, Western

Midfielder – Medina Birani, Western

Second Team All-Stars

Defender – Maya Lankin, Western

Midfielder – Reese Fowler, Western

Congratulations to all these student athletes! 

The Mustangs will take on the Laval Rouge Et Or in their opening match at the U SPORTS Soccer Championship. That game is set for Thursday, November 10 at 4pm. All games will be played at Richardson Stadium in Kingston, ON. All 11 games of the championship will be streamed on CBC digital platforms.