Hamilton, Ont. - The McMaster Marauders women's soccer team defeated the Waterloo Warriors at Ron Joyce Stadium on a chilly Saturday afternoon by a score of 2-1. 

In the opening minutes of the game, McMaster got their first chance to score. Defender Adrienne Harrison (Burlington, Ont.) would take a shot from 30 yards out, but it would hit the cross bar. On the rebound, Mel Van Der Hoop (Oakville, Ont.) would go for the header but Waterloo's goalkeeper would make the stop. 

Despite some sloppy play from both teams at the beginning of the match, the Marauders cleaned it up and put some passes together for their first goal. Working deep in the Warriors' end, Marauder Maureen Mai (Peterborough, Ont.) would deek out a Waterloo defender on the top right corner of the box. With an opening, the first-year forward would bury it opposite top corner to give McMaster the 1-0 lead. 

With ten minutes left in the half, sweeper Cristina Leonardelli (Woodbridge, Ont.) scored her second goal of the season to give McMaster the 2-0 cushion they needed going into the second half.

Both teams would continue to get chances in the second to score, but it would be the Warriors to capitalize in the 65th minute. Waterloo would make a pass to the right sideline and find themselves on a 2-on-1 with just Leonardelli to defend the rush. Receiving a great pass, Kaitlyn Barnett (Kitchener, Ont.) would beat goalkeeper Jocelyn Wilkins to get the Warriors back in it.

Both teams would put on the pressure in the final minutes of the game, but it would be the home team that prevailed, giving McMaster their seventh win of the season. 

The Marauders travel to Guelph on Saturday to take on the Gryphons. The last time these two teams matched up this season, they tied 0-0.