The Brock Badgers women's lacrosse team suffered two losses in a Saturday doubleheader.
On Saturday, Oct. 19, the Brock Badgers traveled to Hamilton to face off against the Laurier Golden Hawks and the McMaster Marauders at Alumni Field McMaster. They first played against Laurier, losing 14-7, and later narrowly falling 6-5 to McMaster.
Game 1: Brock 7 – Laurier 14
The Badgers defence struggled to stop the Golden Hawks relentless offence in the loss.
It was an eventful first quarter with eight goals combined between both teams (five from Laurier and three from Brock).
Kyla McGuire scored one of the Badgers' three goals in the final minute of the quarter, as she shined in the game with three goals.
Brock's Mackenzie Shigwadja, Kennedy Smith and Gabby Winters also left a mark on the game each notching a goal, while Abby Holliday recorded a goal and an assist.
Laurier's offence had their foot on the gas pedal all game, finishing every quarter in the lead led by Rayne Blassuti who finished the game with four goals.
Heading into the third quarter, Brock was down 7-4 but found the back of the net twice to close the gap to 7-6.
The Golden Hawks would go on to outscore the Badgers 7-1 the rest of the way in the win.
Game 2: Brock 5 – McMaster 6
In their second game, the Badgers hopes as the comeback kids fell short with a tight loss to the Marauders.
McMaster opened the game with two straight goals, but soon after Smith got Brock on the board with a goal.
McGuire would continue to excel on the day as she recorded an assist and her first of two goals in the game in the second quarter to keep Brock within one goal.
The fourth-year attack notched her second goal in the third quarter, which was part of Brock's three-goal surge that tied the game at five apiece.
Ryanne Logan and Winters also scored in the contest while Shigwadja added an assist.
In a quiet fourth quarter, McMaster's Lexi Sheppard had the game deciding goal to help her team regain the lead. Despite a strong push from Brock, their offence was denied in a 6-5 heartbreaker.
Up next, the Badgers will host the OUA Championship at home in St. Catharines at Kiwanis Field. They will kick off the playoffs against the Toronto Varsity Blues in a round robin game on Friday, Oct. 25 at 8 p.m. Brock will then quickly prepare to face the Trent Excalibur in their second round robin game on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 1 p.m.
