WATERLOO, Ont. - The Marauders women's soccer team traveled to Waterloo for the season opener to face a familiar foe in the Warriors on opening night, a team they faced just nine days earlier in a non-conference contest. Alena Spehar was an absolute attacking force for McMaster, recording three goals to lead the Marauders to a 3-2 victory, their first of the 2023 OUA season.

Despite the visitors outshooting the home squad 6-2 in the opening half, the game remained scoreless until the 45th minute of play when Waterloo found the back of the Marauder net to take a late 1-0 lead into the halftime break.

It didn't take long for McMaster to break through in the second half. Jade Abreo set up Alena Spehar in the 53rd minute to tie the game. The two connected again nine minutes later to with Spehar recording her second goal of the game to give the Marauders a 2-1 lead. In the 72nd minute of play, Abreo once again found Spehar to make the advantage two. Waterloo drew within one in the 77th minute but it was McMaster who secured the win.

The Marauders tallied 10 shots on goals to the Warriors' nine. Spehar and Abreo each recorded three points in the season opener. Goalkeeper Jana Febbraro played the entire 90 minutes for the visitors, totaling seven saves in the contest.

With the win, McMaster starts the season off with a 1-0-0 record.

Next Up 

McMaster is back in action on Sunday, September 3 against the Waterloo Warriors at Richardson Stadium.