London, ON – The 2026 OUA Soccer season started with a 1-0 win for the Western Mustangs over Waterloo. The Mustangs recorded nine shots on goal, outpacing Waterloo's four, and maintained a shutout with four saves.
Western secured a win against Waterloo at Western Alumni Stadium, showcasing significant progress in its strategic execution. "The first thing you saw is that we've started to execute some of the things we've been working on," said Associate Coach Onkar Dhillion. "We're far from the complete picture, but you can see little glimmers of what we've been working on in camp." He acknowledged the ongoing development, noting, "It is starting to look like what we want it to look like, but we are still experimenting with people in new spaces." The victory marked a positive start for Western, setting a foundation for improvement as the season progresses.
GAME RECAP
The game commenced with both the Mustangs and Waterloo engaging in a defensive battle. Western applied pressure with multiple attempts on goal, including a penalty kick by Emily Foster in the 40
th minute, which was saved by Waterloo's Maeve Hagarty. Despite Western's aggressive play, including numerous corner kicks taken by Marisa Crane, the half concluded in a scoreless draw with a 0-0 scoreboard.
Western took control in the second period with a decisive goal by Miranda Preece at the 61:57 mark, breaking the deadlock and marking her first of the season. The goal had even more meaning as it was Preece's first time on the pitch for Western after an extended break because of injuries.
"I've been injured for 2 years; this is my first game back with Western in 2 years. I'm just overjoyed right now." said Preece post-game. "We're such a pressing team that I almost heard the coaches in the back of my mind saying press. The goalie played it to the defender. I saw the ball going back. I kind of just ran with all I could. I'm just full of joy right now."
The Mustangs maintained offensive pressure, with shots from Jacqueline Brown and Helena McLellan, but faced strong goalkeeping from Waterloo's Maeve Hagarty, who made several key saves.
Despite some defensive challenges, including a yellow card for Cauvais Deane, Western's defence, led by Astrid Hancocks, held firm against Waterloo's attempts. Western secured its advantage throughout the second half, ending with a 1-0 lead over Waterloo. The game concluded with this score, sealing the victory for the Mustangs.
Preece notched the lone goal and led the team with six shots, four of which were on goal. Astrid Hancocks posted four saves, maintaining a clean sheet over 90 minutes of play.
NEXT GAME
The opening weekend of the season continues on Sunday afternoon as the Mustangs are headed to Toronto for a meeting with the York Lions. Game time is set for 1 p.m. from Lions Stadium. Fans can stream the action on
OUA.tv.
