KINGSTON, ON - The Brock University men's lacrosse team dropped a 16-14 decision in double overtime to the Western Mustangs in the CUFLA Baggataway Cup Final at Richardson Stadium Sunday.

The Western Mustangs came out of the gate strong putting up the first three goals of the game. Next, Brandon Slade jump started the Badger offense. Slade scored two goals unassisted for the Badgers, one coming on the power play and the other when the Brock side was shorthanded. Connor Ham added a late power play goal for the Badgers to send the game into its first intermission at a 6-3 score. The Badgers were looking to build on their special teams success in the first and start to mount a comeback.

In the second frame, the Badgers played a strong cohesive brand of defense which prevented the Western Mustangs for scoring. In what was a momentum turning play for the Badgers, Brandon Slade made an incredible diving stop behind the Mustang net to keep possession for the Badgers. Subsequently, Jordan Gillis would fire on goal during that very possession to bring the score to 6-5 heading into half time. 

Western came out of the half a determined team. They spread the ball well and had five different scorers find the back of the net. Nick Rybka, Ham and Connor Brown all scored for the Badgers. The scored headed into the final frame was 11-8 Western.

However the fourth quarter belonged the Badgers. The Brock comeback was lead by Tyrus Rehanek who had two goals in the final frame. The final 10 minutes of the last quarter were incredible exciting. The Badgers tied the game at 12 with just over 10 left. Inside the final 10 minutes Cole Davis scored for the Mustangs to take a late lead. In the final minute, which saw many changes in possession and strategic time outs, The Badgers were able to get one final shot at the Western goal and Josh Harris found the back of it with 31 seconds left in the game. The Baggataway Cup would be decided by overtime, tied 12-12.

In the first overtime of field lacrosse there are two four minute halves. If the game is subsequently tied after, the game would head to sudden death overtime. In the first overtime frame there was a lot of scoring. Jackson Hulbert opened the scoring for the Mustangs. Brock then scored twice from Alex Pace and Rehanek.

However that was the last time the Badgers would score. The Mustangs were able to score two more in the first over time period and play keep away in the second overtime effectively running out the clock on the Badgers.

Visibility was huge factor for both teams in the game. The heavy rain and strong winds effected the goaltenders a great deal. Josh Wood, Brock, and Manraj Nijjar, Western, did well to battle the elements. The hardest test for each goalie was when they had to tend the net on the north side of the field. The 40km winds were blowing north which effected the visibility for defenders as well as the goalie looking to find the ball. During regulation Western only scored one goal when shooting on the south net but was able to net when shooting North.

The Badgers finish the 2017 season with a 14-1 overall record with a silver medal finish at the CUFLA Nationals.