Hamilton, Ont. - A busy weekend for the Marauders with playoff action, home openers, and OUA Championships across multiple sports! Highlights included a men's basketball win over Toronto and back-to-back sweeps from women's volleyball.

Football
October 25 - L: 10-46 @ Queen's, OUA Quarterfinal | Box Score

Men's Basketball
October 24 - L: 72-78 vs TMU | Box Score
October 25 - W: 75-66 vs Toronto | Box Score

Women's Basketball
October 24 - L: 52-70 vs TMU | Box Score
October 25 - L: 72-73 vs Toronto | Box Score

Men's Volleyball
October 25 - L: 2-3 (22-25, 25-20, 25-15, 20-25, 16-18) vs Toronto | Box Score
October 26 - L: 0-3 (22-25, 23-25, 22-25) vs Toronto | Box Score

Women's Volleyball
October 25 - W: 3-0 (25-15, 25-23, 25-19) vs Lakehead | Box Score
October 26 -  W: 3-0 (25-14, 25-23, 25-23) vs Lakehead | Box Score

Men's Lacrosse
October 24 - L: 5-9 @ Western

Men's Rugby
October 26 - L: 0-106 @ Queen's, OUA Quarterfinal

Cross Country
October 25 - OUA Championships, Kingston Ont. | Results

Rowing 
October 25 - OUA Championships, St. Catherines, Ont. | Results


Football
October 25 - L: 10-46 vs Queen's, OUA Quarterfinal | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders 2025 season came to a close on Saturday afternoon, as the Queen's Gaels used a dominant defensive performance to take a 46–10 victory in the OUA quarterfinal at Richardson Stadium.

Queen's set the tone early, scoring on their opening three possessions to grab a 17–0 lead after the first quarter. The Gaels defense was relentless throughout the contest, forcing six turnovers, including four interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, and limiting McMaster to 218 yards of total offense.

Quarterback Alex Vreeken led the Gaels' attack with 241 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Jared Chisari anchored the run game with 155 yards and a score on 20 carries. Kicker Tyler Mullan added three field goals as Queen's built a 30–3 halftime lead and never looked back.

The Marauders' lone points of the opening half came on a 28-yard field goal from Michael Horvat (Hamilton, Ont.), and they broke through for a touchdown in the fourth quarter when Lucas Barresi (Hamilton, Ont.) capped an 11-play, 79-yard drive with a one-yard rush. Barresi finished 9-for-20 for 131 yards and the rushing score, while Jackson Taylor (Hamilton, Ont.) led McMaster receivers with three catches for 70 yards.

Despite the result, the Marauders battled to the end, showing flashes of the talent that carried them back into postseason contention. McMaster now turns its focus to the offseason, returning several key contributors as the program looks to build toward another playoff run in 2026.
 

Men's Basketball
October 24 - L: 72-78 vs TMU | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders put up a strong fight against the TMU Bold on Friday night at Burridge Gym for the home opener, but came up short in a 78–72 loss.

McMaster came out hot in the first quarter with Jack McMahan (Burlington, Ont.) knocking down back-to-back threes to open the game. Riaz Saliu (Oshawa, Ont.) followed up with another three and later threw down a dunk to extend the lead to 15–10. The Marauders kept up the pace with more tough drives to the basket and strong defence, forcing TMU to call a timeout after falling behind 20–11. Saliu capped off the quarter with another dunk off a quick pass from Ares Culley-Bremner (Hamilton, Ont.) to keep McMaster in control.

In the second quarter, Culley-Bremner opened with a big dunk to keep the energy high. TMU started to close the gap, but McMaster answered with a clutch three from Riley Bleich (Fonthill, Ont.) and solid defence to hold a 42–36 lead at halftime.

The third quarter saw TMU push ahead, but the Marauders stayed right with them. Bleich threw down a dunk off a rebound, and James Kelly (Toronto, Ont.) and Saliu hit back-to-back shots to cut the deficit to just one. A three from Kelly and another from Culley-Bremner kept the game tight heading into the fourth.

The final quarter was a battle. Tyler Garcia hit a deep three to tie things up at 62–62, and the teams traded points all the way to the end. Bleich's dunk and Kelly's jumper tied the game again at 70–70, but TMU managed to edge ahead in the final minute to take the win, 78–72.

October 25 - W: 75-66 vs Toronto | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders bounced back in a big way, taking down the Toronto Varsity Blues 75–66, marking their first win at home in a strong all-around performance.

McMaster opened the game with James Kelly (Toronto, Ont.) hitting an early jumper, and Jack McMahan (Burlington, Ont.) followed with back-to-back buckets to grab the lead. Ares Culley-Bremner (Hamilton, Ont.) set the tone on defence with a big block midway through the quarter, and Riaz Saliu (Oshawa, Ont.) pulled down a key rebound to keep the Marauders within reach, trailing just 16–11 after the first quarter.

The momentum shifted in the second. McMahan started the quarter with a layup, and Culley-Bremner came up huge, locking down defensively and hitting multiple shots to tie the game 22–22. Xavier Snagg (Ajax, Ont.) drilled a three to push McMaster ahead, and the team went on a run with crisp ball movement and confident shooting. Culley-Bremner continued to dominate inside, helping the Marauders take a 32–25 lead into halftime.

McMaster carried that energy into the third. Kelly hit a three, Riley Bleich (Fonthill, Ont.) converted an and-one, and Jack McMahan (Burlington, Ont.) buried a corner three off a smooth assist from Samson Van Koughnett (Hamilton, Ont.). Koughnett then drove to the net for a layup, extending the lead to double digits. The Marauders' defence stayed tight, ending the quarter up 53–41.

In the fourth, McMaster refused to slow down. Saliu opened with a three-point play, McMahan hit another from deep, and Culley-Bremner continued to make his presence felt with multiple blocks and strong finishes at the rim. Jeremiah Francis (Surrey, B.C.) added a three, and Bleich threw down a dunk off an assist from Koughnett to seal the momentum. With Koughnett sinking late free throws, the Marauders closed out a statement win, 75–66.
 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by McMaster Marauders (@mcmastersports)

Women's Basketball
October 24 - L: 52-70 vs TMU | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders fought a tough battle against TMU Bold on Friday night and fell short, 57-70. Emily Frankovic (Thornhill, Ont.) made some key shots including a three-pointer that cut the lead to five in the first. Jocelyn Newby (Guelph, Ont.) found Grace Ammendolia (Hamilton, Ont.) who sank a buzzer beater 3-pointer ending the quarter two points behind, 17-15.
The Marauders continued to battle with energy on both ends. Grace Ammendolia added a quick layup, and Ashley Guerriero (Newmarket, Ont.) converted a tough basket while drawing a foul. Despite McMaster's defensive pressure and strong play from Sophia Urosevic (Kitchener, Ont.) inside, TMU held a 40–26 lead at halftime.

The Marauders pushed back in the third with baskets from Jordan Denkers (Hamilton, Ont.) and Grace Ammendolia, who showcased her ball-handling skills, finishing a long layup under pressure. TMU, however, maintained momentum, extending their lead through consistent scoring.

In the final quarter, McMaster's offense found rhythm with contributions from Taylor Scott (Burlington, Ont.), Emily Frankovic, and Grace Ammendolia. The Marauders kept fighting until the final buzzer, closing the gap late with strong plays from Taylor Scott and A'mya Rawlins-Thomas (Ajax, Ont.) on the fast break. 

October 25 - L: 72-73 vs Toronto | Box Score

In a thrilling match up that went down to the wire, the McMaster Marauders fell just short to the Toronto Varsity Blues, 73–72, in overtime on Friday night at Burridge Gym.

The game opened with Jocelyn Newby (Guelph, Ont.) draining a deep three to set the tone. Strong drives from Grace Ammendolia (Hamilton, Ont.) and Jordan Denkers (Hamilton, Ont.) kept the score tight, ending the first quarter tied 11–11. 

In the second, the Marauders found momentum. A'mya Rawlins-Thomas (Ajax, Ont.) pushed through traffic for two, and Ammendolia hit a corner three to take the lead and force a Toronto timeout. Teja McCormick (Toronto, Ont.) and Tayler Scott (Burlington, Ont.) added clutch plays on both ends, with Scott grabbing key rebounds and finishing through contact to help McMaster hold a 33–32 edge at halftime.
Toronto opened the third quarter with a quick lead, but McMaster stayed within reach thanks to a big block from Scott and a buzzer-beating three from Ashley Guerriero (Newmarket, Ont.) to end the quarter down 48–42.

The Marauders turned up the heat in the fourth. Ammendolia powered through for an and-one, Rawlins-Thomas added a strong layup, and Scott kept the energy high with another finish inside. In the final minute, Guerriero hit a clutch corner three, and Ammendolia followed with another and-one to give McMaster the lead 66–65. The Blues answered with a three, but Scott's buzzer-beater layup tied it 68–68, forcing overtime.

In extra time, McMaster showed grit on defense and regained the lead 72–70 after another big shot from Scott. But in the final seconds, Toronto hit a three to seal the 72–73 win.

Men's Volleyball
October 25 - L: 2-3 (22-25, 25-20, 25-15, 20-25, 16-18) vs Toronto | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders (0-2) fell short 3-2 in a five-set battle to the University of Toronto Varsity Blues (1-0) in their home opener Saturday afternoon at Burridge Gymnasium. 

The opening set stayed close, with Michael Rendulic (Stoney Creek, Ont.) starting the scoring with a kill and Kaden Zunti (Burlington, Ont.) adding an ace for an early lead. Despite six kills from Mekhi Fitzgerald (Milton, Ont.), Toronto took the set 25-22. McMaster responded in the second with five kills from Grayson Jarrett (Camrose, Alta.) which added to their win of 25-20 and then carried that momentum into the third, cruising to a 25-15 victory and a 2-1 match lead.

The Varsity Blues rallied in the fourth, reclaiming control with a 25-21 win to force a decisive fifth set. Rendulic, Fitzgerald and Jarrett each landed key aces to keep the frame tight, but Toronto edged out an 18-16 result to take the match 3-2.

October 26 - L: 0-3 (22-25, 23-25, 22-25) vs Toronto | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders (0-3) dropped their Sunday matchup at Burridge Gymnasium, falling 3-0 to the University of Toronto Varsity Blues (2-0) in a hard-fought contest. 

The opening set featured tight rallies and lead changes, with Seth O'Brien (Kingston, Ont.) landing a service ace to put McMaster ahead 6-5. Grayson Jarrett (Camrose, Alta.) added another ace and several key attacks, but the Varsity Blues pulled away late to take the set 25-22.

The second set followed a similar script, with O'Brien recording his second ace and McMaster keeping the score close before Toronto edged out a 25-23 win. In the final frame, Kaden Zunti (Burlington, Ont.) opened the scoring and the Marauders' blocking unit held firm, while Derick Breukelman (Toronto, Ont.) added a final ace to extend the set. Despite the push, the Varsity Blues closed it out 25-22 to secure the straight-sets victory.
 

Women's Volleyball
October 25 - W: 3-0 (25-15, 25-23, 25-19) vs Lakehead | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders closed out their game opener with a strong performance against the Lakehead Thunderwolves on Saturday night, taking the match 3-0.

McMaster opened the first set with dominant energy, led by Olivia Julien (Toronto, Ont.), who served aggressively and delivered multiple kills to give the Marauders an early lead. Charlie Dean was outstanding, setting up major assists to keep the attack rolling. Jennifer Wu (Burlington, Ont.) kept the team steady with key digs, while Sydney Zakutney made a major block to maintain control. A service ace from Omosefe Osaghae (Barrie, Ont.) forced a Lakehead timeout, and a service error from Lakehead helped secure the 25-15, giving the advantage and taking the set.

The second set saw more back-and-forth action, with Lakehead coming back stronger. However, McMaster responded quickly with strong rallies and defensive grit from Sydney Zakutney (Ottawa, Ont.) which kept the Marauders in contention. Eva Lin (Markham, Ont.) and Abby Delemare (Toronto, Ont.) made clutch plays at the net pushing back against Lakeheads advancements. Maddy Lutes (Barrie, Ont.) tipped the ball perfectly to even the score, and McMaster surged ahead with late kills from Olivia Julien (Toronto, Ont.) and Abby Delamere (Toronto, Ont.) to take the set 25–23.

In the third, Lakehead started with the lead, but McMaster quickly found their rhythm once again. With consistent pressure and strong teamwork across the court, the Marauders stormed back to close out the set 25–19, completing the sweep and a dominant showing for their opener at home.

The McMaster Marauders are set to play Lakehead again on Sunday in Burridge Gymnasium. 

October 26 -  W: 3-0 (25-14, 25-23, 25-23) vs Lakehead | Box Score

The Marauders (2-0) were back in Burridge Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon earning a 3-0 sweep against the Thunderwolves (0-2).

After Lakehead opened the scoring, Olivia Julien (Toronto, Ont.) put McMaster on the board with a kill before Lauren Pastor (Toronto, Ont.) added an ace to give the Marauders the lead. Pastor and Maddy Lutes (Barrie, Ont.) each recorded two additional aces as McMaster took the opening set 25-14 for a 1-0 advantage.

McMaster maintained its rhythm in the second, holding off a late Thunderwolves push to claim the set 25-23 and go up 2-0. The final frame stayed tight, but the Marauders' strong serving and attacking gave them the upper hand. With another Lutes ace and several powerful kills, McMaster sealed a 25-23 win, sweeping the match.
 

Cross Country
October 25 - OUA Championships, Kingston Ont. | Results

On Saturday at the 2025 OUA Cross Country Championships at CFB Kingston Fort Henry Cross Country Trail, the McMaster Marauders men's team secured a third-place finish with 80 points, trailing only Queen's Gaels (50 points) and Guelph Gryphons (69 points).

Iain Thomson (Dundas Ont.) led the Marauders with a time of 23:40.1, placing 4th overall and earning OUA all star honours. Cracking the top 10 was Samuel Patrick (Guelph, Ont.) who finished in 10th place with a time of 24:01.4 and earning all star honours all well. Rounding out the Marauder's score was Will Weist (Toronto, Ont.) finishing 17th (24.35.7), Austin McGoey (Whitby, Ont.) in 24th (24:50.2), Ryan Davies (Sarnia, Ont.) in 25th (24:52.0), Tristan Bouius (Hanover, Ont.) in 27th (24:54.0) and Ben Keller (Hamilton, Ont.) in 32nd (25:10.8).

The women's team took home 5th place with Sophie Trott (Ottawa, Ont.) leading the Marauders, finishing 16th overall in 28:47.0 and Kaitlyn Treleaven (Hamilton, Ont.) following closely behind in 19th (28:53.9). Moments later, Olivia MacAskill (Kanata, Ont.) crossed the line in 22nd (29:10.0), with Mikayla Battams (Tottenham, Ont.) right behind in 23rd (29:16.0), Emma Elliott (Guelph, Ont.) in 27th (29:23.8), and Ella Madsen (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) in 29th (29:30.4). Following close behind was McMaster veteran Kayla Overholt (Burlington, Ont.) grabbing 47th (30:55.5).

 The Marauders will next take their talents to the U SPORTS Championships on November 8th in Sherbrooke, Que.

Rowing 
October 25 - OUA Championships, St. Catherines, Ont. | Results

SILVER MEDAL : JV Women's 4+: Shauna Vanderhorst, Hailey Lay, Olivia Wilson, Brooke Chow, Elizabeth Warner

BRONZE MEDAL : Lightweight Women's 4+: Shauna Vanderhorst, Sarah Orsenik, Naomi Mazurek, Brooke McCoy, Molly Hazel

BRONZE MEDAL: Lightweight Women's 2-: Sarah Oresnik, Brooke McCoy

Other A-finals qualifiers:
• Novice Women's 4+: Mary Xue, Gracie VanderMeer, Sophia Szafranski, Madylin Lord, Mira Lam
• Novice Women's 2x: Rachel Lai, Amelia Waslynchuk
• JV Men's 2x: Benjamine Milone, James Teel
• Women's 2-: Kileigh Harrington, Sarah Cushnie
• Women's 4+: Jacqueline Huo, Kileigh Harrington, Macy Mullen, Kaari Ojala, Sarah Cushnie
• Men's 4+: Donna Mahboubi, Connor Kelly, Frank Feng, Geon Youn, Owen Donaldson
• Lightweight Men's 2-: Trevor Tung, Jonathan Diakopoulos

Upcoming Events (Oct 27- Nov 2)


Oct 31
6:00 PM: Women's Basketball @ York
8:00 PM: Men's Basketball @ York
4:00 PM: Women's Volleyball @ RMC
6:00 PM: Men's Volleyball @ RMC

Nov 1
2:00 PM: Women's Volleyball @ RMC
3:30 PM: Men's Volleyball @ RMC
6:00 PM: Women's Basketball vs Brock | Tickets
8:00 PM: Men's Basketball vs Brock | Tickets

Nov 2
Wrestling: McMaster Open


Want Marauder Minute updates delivered to your email inbox each week? Fill out this form.