The McMaster women’s soccer team knew it would be facing a tough challenge against the undefeated Laurier Golden Hawks at Ron Joyce Stadium, but the Marauders rose to the occasion and defeated Laurier 1-0.

The visitors from Laurier entered Friday’s game unbeaten in 11 games with nine wins and two draws. The Hawks are first in the OUA West division and ranked No. 3 in the CIS top-ten.  But McMaster knew it could play with the powerful Hawks, after losing a tough 1-0 contest on a late goal in Waterloo, earlier this season.

The first half saw no scoring, with McMaster having the best chance off a corner kick, but not able to bury the loose ball. The second half had barely started, when Mac’s Tara Dawdy rifled a perfect strike from 25 yards out that flew past Laurier keeper Katrina Ward. 

Dawdy’s goal in the 49^th minute was her sixth of the season, tops on the Marauder squad.

Things got even more challenging for McMaster minutes later when Marauder Julia Maiolino was assessed a second yellow card and sent off, leaving the Marauders a player short for the rest of the game.

Despite some steady pressure by Laurier, Mac showed considerable poise on the counter-attack and Marauder keeper Brittany Duffey was unflappable whenever the Hawks mounted a scoring chance.

The win improves McMaster’s record to six wins, two losses, and two draws in the OUA, and puts them in the running to finish second in the division and get a first round playoff bye.

McMaster is back in action on Saturday, October 6^th vs. Waterloo.  Game time at Ron Joyce Stadium is 1 p.m.