HAMILTON, Ont. - An early goal and disciplined defence allowed the men's soccer team to hold on to a close win today against the Guelph Gryphons. The large crowd that showed up for alumni night left the stadium in good spirits. 

Right off the bat, the Marauders were assertive, pushing hard to break through the right wing. Their efforts led to them forcing five corner kicks in the first half. Forward Cristian Alfieri opened up the scoring in the 11th minute with a well-placed, one-touch shot off a low cross from the right side. He was assisted by midfielder Sachin Sargeant, who caused problems for the Guelph defence throughout the game with his crafty dribbling, persistence on the ball, and incisive runs. 

As Guelph started to pick up the pace in the second half, the game opened up. There was lots of back and forth, leading to many good offensive sequences for both teams. Failing to find a goal, the Gryphons grew heated. They recorded a total of 14 fouls in the game and five yellow cards. Two of these went to #6 on Guelph and got him ejected late in the game. Ultimately, neither side could break through, the game ending with McMaster's lone goal carrying them to victory. 

The win tonight showed the Marauders' maturation since the beginning of the season. Their ability to keep calm under pressure and communicate effectively with each other was key. As the regular season comes to a close, they look to keep improving in their two final games. Catch them on October 20th as they take on the Windsor Lancers at home.