London, ON – The Mustangs concluded their first weekend of 2025 with a tough matchup against the Waterloo Warriors, falling short in a 6-1 loss.
The first period saw both teams come out with high energy, testing each other's defenses with a series of shots. After several attempts, the Mustangs couldn't find the back of the net, while Waterloo capitalized midway through the period. A puck deflected off a player's skate, giving the Warriors their opening goal. The first period ended with Waterloo taking an early 1-0 lead.
Waterloo came alive in the second period and delivered a standout performance. The Mustangs fought hard with some excellent scoring chances, but the Warriors' goalie made some important saves, keeping the Mustangs off the scoreboard. Waterloo extended their lead with four goals during the period, leaving Western trailing 5-0.
In the third period, the Mustangs continued to battle for the puck despite being down by five goals. With just three minutes remaining in the game, Alyssa Wouda scored the team's lone goal, assisted by Emma McCarthy.
However, Waterloo responded quickly, sealing the victory with a sixth goal for a final score of 6-1.
The Mustangs recorded an impressive 43 shots on net throughout the game but struggled to reach a goal.
"I think just being sharp is key. We had a few breakdowns that were purely mental, and our ability to respond was too slow. We need to work on having more mental fortitude in terms of responding, recovering pucks, and doing the things we do well. That will be our focus moving forward," Head Coach Candice Moxley said.
The Mustangs will bounce back on their next game on Saturday, January 18th at 3PM on the road, facing off against the Laurier Golden Hawks.
