Peterborough, ON – The Western Mustangs are 2023 Baggataway Cup Champions after a 7-4 win over McGill on Sunday evening secured the national title.

After the Mustangs dominated the semi final against Brock by a 9-1 score, Western looked to return to the top of the Canadian university men's lacrosse mountain after not winning the trophy since 2019.

Western got the opening goal of the game around the midway point of the opening quarter with a goal from Marc Smorenburg, Connor Murphy would get the assist and the Mustangs would hold a 1-0 lead after 15 minutes of play.

McGill would even the score at 1-1 just two minutes into the 2nd quarter but just before the quarter came to a close Western's Chris Dong would regain the Mustangs lead with just three seconds left in the half and Western held a 2-1 lead.

In the third quarter McGill came out with some pressure and scored a pair of goals, one coming just three minutes into the frame and then again at the 4:29 mark to take a 3-2 lead. The Mustangs would regroup and respond just over a minute later when Connor Murphy would even the game at 3-3 and then Murphy would extend the Mustangs lead to 4-3 with 1:50 remaining in the third to give Wester a 4-3 lead going into the intermission.

The 4th quarter saw the Mustangs continue to keep the foot firmly on the gas as a pair of goals from Da Silva, coupled with a late powerplay goal by Murphy would seal the win for the Mustangs and send the championship trophy and banner back to Western for the 8th time since the tournaments inception in 1985.

Da Silva was named Western's player of the game with 2 goals and 1 assist.

Dong, Da Silva, Sam Van der Zalm, Kaz Nizielski & Landon Masse were all named to the All Baggataway Cup Team.

All Baggataway Cup Team
 
Attack
Rowan Birrell, McGill
Jaden Patterson, Brock
Robbie Baxter, Guelph
 
Midfield 
Chris Dong, Western 
Chris da Silva, Western
Alex Erbstein, McGill
 
Faceoff
Sam MacDonald, McGill 
 
Short Stick Defensive Midfielder (SSDM)
Sam Van der Zalm, Western 
 
Long-Stick Midfielder (LSM)
Liam McCrimmon, Brock
 
Defence
Landon Masse, Western
Ben MacDonnell, Trent
Kaz Nizielski, Western
 
Goalie 
Joseph Boehm, McGill