The Marauder men's soccer team finds itself -- at least for the moment -- atop the OUA West standings, after a 2-0 win over the Western Mustangs on Wednesday.
Defender Kody Kazda and midfielder Nate Morris had goals for the CIS no. 6-ranked Marauders (9-2-2), who vaulted over the York Lions and Guelph Gryphons and into first position in the table after Wednesday's result. McMaster leads the OUA West with 29 points from 13 games, while York has two games in hand and Guelph has one.
Kazda opened the scoring on Wednesday with a goal in the 32nd minute -- his first of the season -- that snatched a lead for the Marauders before the halftime interval. McMaster carried that advantage without much hassle throughout the second half, and doubled it in the late stages through Morris.
The third-year midfielder tied the team-lead with his fifth goal of the season in the 83rd minute to effectively put Wednesday's result beyond doubt. Angelo Cavalluzzo stopped all three of the shots he faced to record McMaster's sixth clean sheet of the season.
The Marauders return to action on Friday, when they travel to Oshawa to conclude the season series with the UOIT Ridgebacks. That game will follow the women's match before it, and is scheduled to get underway at 8:15 p.m.
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The Marauder women's soccer team suffered its second-consecutive defeat on Wednesday, falling 3-1 to the Western Mustangs in London.
The result kept the Marauders (4-4-5) level with the UOIT Ridgebacks for fourth place in the OUA West division, with 17 points from 13 matches.
McMaster was put on the back foot almost immediately on Wednesday, as Western opened the scoring in just the third minute of the match. Midfielder Tianna Deluzio doubled the Mustangs' advantage in the 23rd minute, before rookie forward Jessie Faber halved the Marauders' deficit with her first goal of the season in the 31st.
The two teams settled as the game wore on, with Western snatching a final, insurance goal in the 83rd minute courtesy of striker Amanda Boyle.
The Marauders will attempt to return to the win column on Friday, when they travel to Oshawa to take on the UOIT Ridgebacks. That match is slated for 6:00 p.m.
