The Brock Badgers returned to Ontario University Athletics (OUA) action after a long offseason, and the men's and women's soccer teams started off strong with a combined undefeated weekend.

Women's Rugby
Saturday, Aug. 30: L 31-26 at Guelph Gryphons

Men's Soccer 
Saturday, Aug. 30: W 1-0 at Algoma Thunderbirds | Box Score
Sunday, Aug. 31: W 1-0 at Algoma Thunderbirds | Box Score

Women's Soccer 
Sautrday, Aug. 30: W 2-1 at Algoma Thunderbirds | Box Score
Sunday, Aug. 31: W 3-0 at Algoma Thunderbirds | Box Score

Women's Rugby
Saturday, Aug. 30: L 31-26 at Guelph Gryphons

The Badgers opened their season against the defending OUA champion Guelph Gryphons, falling 36–21 in a hard-fought battle. Paige DeNeve, a fifth-year fly half, led all Brock scorers with 11 points off three penalty kicks and one convert. Brooke Rempel and Jenna Rutherford each added one try. Starting the game strong, the Badgers scored first with a penalty kick from DeNeve to go up 3-0 in the seventh minute. Guelph answered with four tries in the first half to just one from Brock to take a 24-13 advantage. Like the first half, the Badgers started off the scoring with a penalty kick, doing so in the 52nd minute off the foot of DeNeve. Rempel's try in the 80th minute brought the scoreline down to 36-21 as the Badgers kept fighting until the end. 

Up next, the Badgers return home for their home opener and the specially-themed Ruckin' Rodeo game against the Trent Excalibur Saturday, Sept. 6 at 1 p.m. at Alumni Field. 

Men's Soccer
Saturday, Aug. 30: W 1-0 at Algoma Thunderbirds | Box Score

The Badgers broke the deadlock in the second half to pick up a key road victory 1-0 to begin their OUA season. Luca Danesi was the lone goal scorer on the day, while first-year goalkeeper Nikola Neskovic got the start in net and delivered two saves to earn his first career OUA win and clean sheet. Both teams were unable to find a score in the first 45 minutes, generating one shot on goal each. Despite a big save by Algoma's Joshua Bondoc on Danesi's bicycle kick early in the second half, the Badgers kept pressuring. They were rewarded when Danesi's cross went off an Algoma defender and into the net in the 75th minute, which would be the game winner. This contest was filled with yellow cards as Brock earned four from four different players while Algoma had two players receive one each.

Sunday, Aug. 31: W 1-0 at Algoma Thunderbirds | Box Score

For the second day in a row, the Brock Badgers picked up a key road victory 1-0 against the Algoma Thunderbirds. Danesi was the Badgers' hero once again, while Neskovic delivered another strong performance, keeping the scoresheet clean for the second straight contest. Late in the first half, Lucas Medeiros' hard work in the box drew a penalty kick. Danesi delivered on that opportunity, scoring in the 42nd minute to mark his second game-winning goal in as many days. The Badgers kept their foot on the gas in the second half to pick up three points, outshooting the Thunderbirds 7-2 on the day. Both squads got into foul trouble, with four yellow cards and eleven fouls handed out to each team. First-year head coach Jordan Cardinale is now 2-0 in OUA action. 

Up next, Brock will take on Laurier for its highly anticipated home opener. The matchup is set for Friday, Sept. 5 at 8:15 p.m. at Alumni Field, as the Badgers look to improve to 3-0 on the season. The rematch is set for Sunday, Sept. 7 at 3:15 p.m. in Waterloo .

Women's Soccer
Saturday, Aug. 30: W 2-1 at Algoma Thunderbirds | Box Score

After scoring the first goal of the contest, the Brock Badgers kept their pressure, finishing the contest with a 2-1 advantage. Jenna Parris and Tia Schaffer each scored for the Badgers, while starting goalkeeper Shae Mitchell made five saves for the win. To get the scoring started, Schaffer, an Ontario Tech transfer, earned her first OUA goal by making sure of a penalty kick opportunity in the 13th minute. In the second half, an early Jenna Parris goal in the 47th minute gave the Badgers a 2-0 advantage. Late in the contest, Algoma scored their first goal to make the game 2-1 in the 87th minute. The hosts were unable to score the equalizer as the Badgers defence held strong. Shots were close as Brock delivered seven, while Algoma had six. Zack Wilson made an impressive debut, earning his first career OUA win in his first game as the Brock Badgers women's soccer head coach.

Sunday, Aug. 31: W 3-0 at Algoma Thunderbirds | Box Score

The Brock Badgers carried over the momentum from yesterday's victory, finishing Sunday's contest with a 3-0 win. Parris and Schaffer each scored for the second time this weekend, while Lexie Foster tallied her first career OUA goal. Mitchell earned her first clean sheet of the season in net. Foster opened the scoring for the Badgers, netting a goal in the 41st minute of play. The Badgers didn't let up as in the 52nd minute, Julia Martins sent a through ball to Bisante, who got past the Algoma goalkeeper before passing to Parris for the goal. A corner kick taken by Bisante found Schaffer in the box for a header in the 90th minute, which gave Bisante two assists on Sunday. The Badgers' defence held the Thunderbirds without a shot, outperforming them in that category by a count of 4-0.

Up next, the Badgers take on the Laurier Golden Hawks for a weekend doubleheader. The first matchup is set for Friday, Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. at Alumni Field, marking the Badgers' home opener, while the second contest will be a road matchup in Waterloo Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m.