RECAP: MARAUDERS HOST OUA WATER POLO REGIONAL QUALIFIER, TORONTO MOVES ON TO CHAMPIONSHIP

Briana Da Silva, Communications Assistant

HAMILTON, Ont. - The McMaster Marauders men's water polo team hosted a three-team OUA Regional Qualifier Saturday with a berth in the championship on the line. With two statement wins, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues punched their ticket to face the winner of the Regional A match-ups being held in Kingston.

Match 1 - McMaster Marauders vs. U of T Varsity Blues

The Marauders and Varsity Blues faced off in the first match of the day. Remaining undefeated on the season, Toronto secured the win with a final score of 17-4.

The Varsity Blues started the match off intensely and defensively scoring five of their goals in the first quarter while shutting out the Marauders. In the second quarter, the U of T continued to outscore the Marauders, sending three more goals to the back of the net, followed by another five in the third quarter.

McMaster's Hunter Watt made several strong saves in net throughout the match, and was able to hold a potent Varsity Blues offensive attack to three goals in the fourth. In the last quarter, Michael Djurdjevic and Jonathan Spence each tallied goals for the Marauders. However, it wasn't enough to keep the Blues at bay. Diego Gonzalez Delgado scored two and with an additional goal from Aiden Master, it was enough to seal the match with a final score of 17-4 for the Blues.

Varsity Blues Highlights
Both David Li and Diego Gonzalez Delgado netted 4 goals apiece.
Bruno Marunica and Aiden Masters both scored hat tricks.

Marauders Highlights
Jonathan Spence led the Marauders scorers with two goals.
Both Alexander Bozzo and Michael Djurdjevic each put up a goal.

Match 2 - U of T Varsity Blues vs. Western Mustangs

In their second match of the day, the University of Toronto defeated the Western Mustangs 28-1.

Within the first three minutes of play, the Varsity Blues netted four goals - two of which were scored by Cam Hexter. For the remainder of the quarter, the Blues put away another six goals. In the second quarter, U of T would hold the fort defensively against the Mustangs, while adding another 7 goals to the score.

In the third quarter, Mohamed Mohamed put the Mustangs on the board with what would end up being Western's lone goal in the match. Goaltender Amr Mohamed made 13 saves for the Mustangs throughout the match, but the Varsity Blues attackers kept the pressure.

In a fairly paced fourth quarter, both teams held their composure. Adriano De Santos, of Toronto, locked away two more within the same minute and the Varsity Blues found the back of the net four more times, to secure the match 28-1 and book their ticket to next weekend's OUA Championship match.

Varsity Blues Highlights
Cam Hexter led all scorers with five points.
Four Varsity Blues tallied hat tricks.
11 of the 16 players found the scoresheet.

Mustangs Highlights
Mohamed Mohamed put the Mustangs on the board with a goal.
Matthew Hare made 13 saves in net.

Match 3 - McMaster Marauders vs. Western Mustangs

In the final match of the day, the Western Mustangs pulled away with four goals in the last frame to beat the Marauders 10-6.

Playing in the second half of back-to-back matches, Western jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first thanks to a goal from Benjamin Matthews.

Western would extend its lead to 3-0 in the second quarter while McMaster's Ian Madziak made some key saves, leading to Michael Djurdjevic scoring his second of the afternoon to get the Marauders within two. The Mustangs held a 3-1 heading into the break.

McMaster came out and scored midway through the third period as Colin Colterjohn made it cut the deficit to one. But Western would quickly respond with goals by Vladyslav Koval and Aiden Dueck Thiessen to restore its two-goal lead.

Head coach Quinn Fairley called a timeout with just under two minutes remaining in the third quarter, and the move paid off as McMaster answered the call. Captain Alex Bozzo and Johnathan Spence added a pair of goals within a minute of each other to bring it back within one. Western's Graham Bohm notched his first of two goals in the game to give the Mustangs a 6-4 lead heading into the fourth.

The Marauders mounted some pressure in the opening moments of the final quarter, but Western's keeper stood his ground and kept the door shut leading to goals by Aiden Dueck Thiessen (2), Michael Djurdjevic and another from Matthews. The Marauders would get 2 more late goals off the arm of Jonathan Spence, but it wasn't enough as Western held on to take the contest 10-6.

Western Highlights
Aiden Dueck-Thiessen scored four goals, including what would stand as the game-winner.

McMaster Highlights
Jonathan Spence scored three goals in the game.

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Players Mentioned

Alexander Bozzo: Third Year; 3

Colin Colterjohn: Graduate Student; 6

Michael Djurdjevic: Third Year; 3

Jonathan Spence: Second Year; 2

Ian Madziak: First Year

Hunter Watt: First Year

Players Mentioned

Alexander Bozzo
: Third Year; 3

Colin Colterjohn
: Graduate Student; 6

Michael Djurdjevic
: Third Year; 3

Jonathan Spence
: Second Year; 2

Ian Madziak
: First Year

Hunter Watt
: First Year