Things have gotten so dire for the injury-ravaged Marauders that goalkeeper Brittany Duffey was leading the front line on Sunday. But even while their personnel remain in turmoil, McMaster has found a way to stay competitive.

Playing the no. 4-ranked team in the country, the Marauders put in an admirable effort to hold the Western Mustangs to two goals in a 2-0 loss at Ron Joyce Stadium.

It was the second match against top-ten opposition in as many days, as McMaster travelled to Waterloo on Saturday for a match against the no. 7-ranked Laurier Golden Hawks. The Marauders fell 5-0 to the Golden Hawks.

Their difficult weekend dropped McMaster's record to 3-4 on the season.

Play appeared level early in Saturday's match, but Western showed their class to produce the game's first goal seemingly from nothing. A pass fell to striker Amanda Boyle in the box, and she controlled, turned and struck past a diving Cristina Abbatangelo in the Marauder goal in the 15th minute.

The Mustangs threatened again in the 29th, when a quick series of passes sprung a winger along the left. But Marauder defender Taylor Davis was alert to the danger and well positioned to clear the ensuing cross.

Western doubled its lead fifteen minutes into the second half through defender Kerrie Sullivan, but Abbatangelo showed her skill between the posts to prevent a third just six minutes later. After her team was penalized for a handball in the box, the second-year goalkeeper got down well to her right to smother the spot kick.

There was little that the Marauders could do to get forward and cut into the deficit, but they defended stoutly to restrict the Mustangs to two goals until the final whistle.

McMaster returns to action on Saturday, September 27, when the Marauders take the shortest of their road trips to Guelph. That match against the Gryphons is scheduled to kick off at 1:00 p.m.