Marauder Minute (September 21-27, 2026)

Hamilton, Ont. - McMaster saw a busy weekend of competition across many sports as Men's soccer took back to back wins against Guelph and Waterloo. Cross Country kicked off their season with a win for the Men's team and the Women's team taking the silver at the Western Invitational. Women's and Men's swimming also started their season at home facing off against Western. Women's Soccer, Fast Pitch, Baseball and Tennis also put up strong performances this weekend taking wins to continue their seasons.

Football
September 26th - L: 25-32 at Western | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders cut a 17-point deficit to seven in the final minute but fell 32-25 to the Western Mustangs on Saturday at Western Alumni Stadium, suffering their first loss of the season. 

Michael Horvat opened the scoring with a 40-yard field goal, but Western took control in the second quarter. Quarterback Jerome Rancourt connected with Emmett Charles for three touchdowns before halftime, sending the Mustangs into the break with a 23-8 lead. 

Western stretched its advantage to 25-8 early in the third before Lucas Barresi found Shane Wismer for a 13-yard touchdown. Horvat added a 49-yard field goal with 5:27 left in the fourth to pull McMaster within seven, but Ethan Dolby answered with a 26-yard touchdown run. 

The Marauders mounted one final push. Barresi connected with Wismer again for a touchdown with 24 seconds remaining, bringing McMaster within 32-25. Western held on in the final seconds. 

Barresi completed 38 of 62 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns. Wismer caught 12 passes for 120 yards and both scores, while Aidan Nemeth added 10 receptions for 117 yards. Horvat made all three of his field-goal attempts. 

Defensively, Christian Chukwuali II recorded two sacks. Zach Pain, Sean Underhill and Wes McLennan each intercepted a pass as McMaster held Western to 16 first downs.

Cross Country
September 26th at Vigars & Salter Western Invitational | Results
Women's Team: 2nd & Men's Team: 1st

McMaster's men matched the meet record for the lowest team score, while the women finished second at the 2026 Vigars & Salter Western Invitational on Saturday at Thames Valley Golf Course. 

The Marauders men scored 25 points, tying the mark set by Eastern Michigan in 2007. They finished ahead of Western (50) and Guelph (83), placing all five scoring runners among the top eight in the 8-kilometre race. 

Samuel Patrick led McMaster with a second-place finish in 24:56, 10 seconds behind Guelph's Jack Lehto. Austin McGoey placed fourth in 25:07, followed by William Weist in fifth at 25:09. Rookies Eli Bouius and Jack Gregory completed the scoring five, finishing sixth in 25:10 and eighth in 25:23, respectively. Just 27 seconds separated Patrick and Gregory. 

In the women's 8-kilometre race, McMaster scored 59 points to finish behind Windsor (49) and ahead of Guelph (74). 

Rookie Ruby File led the Marauders with a fifth-place finish in 29:10. Emma Elliott also cracked the top 10, placing seventh in 29:46. Ana Morariu finished 12th in 30:05, Kara Tichbourne took 14th in 30:15, and Sophie Trott rounded out McMaster's scoring five in 21st at 30:58. 

McMaster placed seven runners in the top 15 across the two races, with the men's record-tying score highlighting a strong day for both Marauders teams in London.

Women's Soccer
September 25th - L: 0-1 vs Guelph | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders (2-3-2) faced off with the Guelph Gryphons (6-0-0) on Friday. The Marauders lost 1-0 as they fell below .500 for the first time this season. 

It was an evenly matched first half with neither team taking control of the game. McMaster recorded three shot attempts and two on target. 

Forward, Olivia Blair (Mississauga, Ont.) and defender, Emma Fluit (London, Ont.), both directed shots on target while goaltender, Lucie Duffy (London, Ont.) made one save in the half.

In the second half, McMaster was unable to come out with the same intensity and Guelph started to control the ball more often. 

In the 68th minute, Guelph took the lead and McMaster could not find the equaliser. The Marauders recorded one shot on target in the half. 

Despite the loss, McMaster played well defensively with strong mid-field play by Ellena Parakunnel (Burlington, Ont.) and Ravina Braich (Oakville, Ont.). 

Fluit and her co-captain, Shalagh Guha (Waterloo, Ont.), also defended well in the game. Duffy finished the game with four saves.

September 27th - W: 5-1 vs Waterloo | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders (3-3-2) had a dominant 5-1 victory over the Waterloo Warriors (2-6-0) on Sunday. 

McMaster did not have a great start to the game as they recorded just three shot attempts with two on target. The Marauders also allowed four shots on target, with goaltender, Lucie Duffy (London, Ont.) coming up big and making three stops. 

Waterloo got on the board first in the 34th minute but third-year Marauder, Ravina Braich (Oakville, Ont.) tied the game up with her first of the season, bringing the game to 1 apiece at half-time. 

McMaster exploded out of the break, with three shot attempts that failed to connect before third-year forward, Olivia Blair (Mississauga, Ont.) scored her second of the season giving McMaster the lead. 

Rookie, Maria Annibale (Toronto, Ontario) assisted on Blair's goal, her third point of the season. Just three minutes later, and Blair continued her incredible night, burying her third point of the game off of an assist from Braich and giving McMaster the 3-1 lead. 

Fourth-year forward, Mia Paiement (Hamilton, Ont.) scored her second of the season while captain, Shalagh Guha (Waterloo, Ont.), added her first goal of the season, giving McMaster a 5-1 lead that remained for the final.

Guha found the target three times, leading the team, and Duffy made six saves in total en route to the win. Master picks up their third win of the season and their eleventh point placing them in fifth in the OUA West. 

Next up, McMaster faces off with the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks. The Marauders will look to their success from last season where they went 2-0 against Laurier. The game will be on Friday, October 2nd, at 6pm in Waterloo.

Men's Soccer 
September 25th- W: 3-1 vs Guelph | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders (4-2-1) earn their fourth win of the season as they convincingly beat the Guelph Gryphons (3-2-1) 4-1 on Friday. 

McMaster dominated play in the first half. Just two minutes in, Nicolas Fontecha (Windsor, Ont.) buried his second goal of the season after a strong cross-in from third-year Marauder, Karl Espiro (Burlington, ont.). 

Espiro was everywhere in the half, generating chances for teammates, as well as himself. In the 29th minute, Espiro took an absolute strike on a free kick which earned him his first goal of the season and his third point.

Fifth-year defender, Damiano Refosco (Hamilton, Ont.), scored his third career goal on a penalty shot, giving McMaster a 3-0 lead. 

McMaster took seven shots and all of them found the target. Goaltender, Ethan Cagalj (Stoney Creek, Ont.) made five saves. Second-year defender, Niko Eskit (Oakville, Ont.), and fourth-year defender, Josiah Bethune (Toronto, Ont.) had strong defensive impacts in the first half. 

After the Gryphons cut the lead to two in the 45th minute, McMaster weathered an onslaught of chances from Guelph, early into the first half. Fontecha nearly added to McMaster's lead in the 55th minute as his header was just wide. 

Eskit continued his great mid-field play, this time contributing offensively, as he headed in a beautiful corner from Refosco. Eskit's second of the season was in the 81st minute and put McMaster up 4-1, where the game finished.

Cagalj was integral to McMaster's success, as he made massive saves in the 49th and 70th minutes, and overall, finished with ten saves en route to the win. 

September 29th- W: 1-0 vs Waterloo | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders (5-2-1) defeated the Waterloo Warriors (4-3-1) in a close affair that ended up 1-0. 
 

McMaster played very strong defensively in the first half, allowing just two shot attempts and one on target. Offensively, McMaster generated three shots on target and held the possession advantage heading into the second half.

In the second half, the Marauders controlled play early, recording three shot attempts within the first five minutes of play. After a short response from Waterloo, McMaster once again took over possession and recorded multiple shot attempts that nearly gave them the advantage.

Finally, in the 86th minute, McMaster was awarded a penalty shot. Defender, Damiano Refosco (Hamilton, Ont.) stepped up to the spot, two days removed from his penalty shot goal against Guelph, and buried his second goal of the season, giving McMaster the late lead. 

McMaster held on to the 1-0 win. Goaltender, Ethan Cagalj (Stoney Creek, Ont.), made three saves in total to earn his second clean sheet of the season. Midfielder, Niko Eskit (Oakville, Ont.) led McMaster with three shots on goal.

Next up, McMaster takes on the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks in Waterloo, Ontario. The game is on Friday, October 2nd and starts at 8:15.

Women's Rugby
September 26th - L: 5-91 vs Queen's 

After opening the season with two wins, McMaster has had to endure an exceptionally difficult schedule following last week's tilt with #6 nationally ranked Western and this past weekend against the #4 nationally ranked, and 2025 USports bronze medallists, Gaels from Queen's University. The game was played at Nixon Field in Kingston and the home field advantage turned out to be a big factor. The women played valiantly and gained valuable experience but were held to a single try in the match.

With a respectable 2-2 record in league play, the Marauder women will next turn their attention to returning to the win column when they face another 2-2 squad, the Badgers from Brock University at Alumni Field in St. Catherines on Saturday, October 3rd with a 1:00pm start.

Men's Rugby 
September 27th - L: 14-47 vs Laurier

The Marauder men's rugby team traveled to Ansley Alumni Field in Waterloo on Sunday to face the Golden Hawks of Laurier University. After beginning the season with a win at TMU and a draw at home against the University of Toronto, the McMaster men saw their record evened to 1-1-1 with a loss in Waterloo against the Golden Hawks.

Next Up, the Marauders men face the Western University Mustangs at home in the friendly confines of Ron Joyce Stadium on Saturday, October 3rd. The opening kick is scheduled for 8:00pm. Western enters the contest with a 2-1 record through three games of league play.

Swimming
September 26th - Dual Meet with Western University 

Coach Grey Fairley and his McMaster Marauders' men's and women's swimming teams kicked off the 2026 campaign with a dual meet against the Western Mustangs at the Ivor Wynne Centre pool on the McMaster campus on Saturday, September 26th.

McMaster started off the meet strong with victories in both the Men's and Women's 200 Medley Relay. 

Several marauder women also took the win in their individual events with first year athlete Enye Elbard-Berkovski starting off her McMaster career taking the win in the 50 meter breaststroke with a time of 34.11. The Women's team point scoring was led by two rookie athletes, Leigh Etrue and Nethaya Mahadana-Arachchi (Orangeville, Ont.) for their performances in the sprint backstroke and butterfly events.

On the Men's side, Emilio Gonzalez Maciel (Mexico State, Mex.) led the charge with gold medal performances in the 50 backstroke, 50 freestyle, and 100 backstroke. Fourth year Hayden Yeung (Hong Kong, Chn.) also saw success taking 2nd place in the 100 IM and 3rd in both the 50 breaststroke and freestyle events.\

Next up for the Marauder team will be a showdown south of the border at the Oxy Aquatic Centre in Lewiston, New York, the home of the Niagara University Purple Eagles, on Saturday, October 3rd.

Fast Pitch
September 25th - L: 1-11 at Western
September 25th - L: 8-17 at Western
September 26th - L: 1-8 at Windsor
September 26th - W: 4-3 at Windsor
September 27th - L: 6-11 vs Laurier
September 27th - L: 3-7 vs Laurier

The Marauder women's fast pitch team had a very busy schedule this past weekend playing back-to-back-to-back doubleheaders on Friday (at Western), Saturday (at Windsor), and Sunday (at home against Laurier).

In both of their doubleheaders against Western and Windsor, the Marauders fared much better in the latter half of the doubleheader. Against Western, they found their offense scoring eight runs despite dropping the contest. The eight runs was the second highest output on the season trailing only the nine runs they scored in their season opening victory against the Waterloo Warrior women. In the second game of their doubleheader against Windsor, McMaster earned a hard fought 4-3 victory over the Lancers.

The scores for the doubleheader against Windsor on Sunday, September 27th will be reported when they become available.

The McMaster women have not been allowed any time to rest as they face yet another weekend with three double headers on consecutive days. However, this time they are fortunate to play all six weekend games at home on campus at Mary Keyes Diamond #3. They face the Brock University Badgers in a doubleheader on Friday, October 2nd with the first pitch scheduled for 7:00pm. The Marauder women then get their opportunity for some vengeance against two teams they faced earlier in the season, the Gryphons of Guelph University (on Saturday, October 3rd starting at 2:00pm) and the Western Mustangs (on Sunday, October 4th with the opening game of the doubleheader scheduled for 11:00am).

Baseball 

The McMaster Marauders took on the Brock Badgers in a double-header on Saturday.

September 26- L: 3-6 vs Brock Badgers (Game 1)

McMaster handed the ball off to right-hander, Alex Van Raay (Hamilton, Ont.), in game 1 of the double header. Van Raay, a third-year Marauder, pitched five innings, striking out three batters while allowing four hits. He had one walk while surrendering three runs, with two being earned.

Fourth-year reliever, Neal Bhattachatya (Brampton, Ont.), recorded two outs, while allowing three hits and two walks. The righty gave up two earned runs. 

Guelph Native, Sam McMillan, recorded four outs, allowing two hits and one earned run while striking out two batters. The Marauders allowed six runs, and Van Raay was charged with the loss.

Offensively, McMaster generated seven hits and two walks. Fifth-year third baseman, Devon Fenwick (Etobicoke, Ont.) and second-year first baseman, Quinton Shannon (Ancaster, Ont.) both led the team with 2-3 days. Shannon also recorded an RBI, along with catcher, Jackson McQuade (Toronto, Ont.), and shortstop, Coy Gordon.

September 27- W: 8-7 vs Western Mustangs (Game 2)

In game two of the double header, McMaster handed the ball to veteran Marauder, Devon Fenwick (Etobicoke, Ont.). The righty pitched in four innings, racking up three strikeouts while allowing four hits and four runs, two of which were earned. 

Through four innings, McMaster trailed by one run. RBIs by Quinton Shannon (Ancaster, Ont.), John Dykyj (Burlington, Ont.) and Kayan Alazem (Milton, Ont.) kept McMaster in the game.

McMaster brought in Premnath Nayak to work the fifth inning, and he delivered a solid outing, allowing one run on one hit. Down by two, McMaster responded as rookie third baseman, Marko Young, recorded an RBI on a ground out, cutting Brock's lead to one.

Fifth-year reliever, Marco Colucci (Oakville, Ont.), pitched a strong sixth inning, striking out a batter while keeping the game in reach. An error by Brock in the 6th inning leads to Alazem scoring the tying run.

McMaster brought in fourth-year pitcher, Jonah Ferry (Markham, Ont.), in the seventh inning. After Ferry struck out the side, McMaster was unable to score and the game moved to extra innings.

Brock got to Ferry in the eighth inning, scoring two runs, and taking a 7-5 lead. Ferry finished his outing with 2 innings pitched, two runs against (one earned), with five strikeouts, one walk and one hit.

After DH, Justin Meade (Brampton, Ont.) walked and Gordon was hit by a pitch, McMaster was threatening with two on and two outs. McMaster brought in a pinch-hitter, third-year Marauder, Lucas Grant, who delivered three RBI double to walk it off for the Marauders.

Tennis
September 27- W: 12-3 vs Toronto Metropolitan

The McMaster Marauders tennis teams closed a two-match weekend with a combined 12–3 result against TMU on Sunday, bouncing back from a split with Ottawa the day before.

McMaster's women opened the weekend with a 5–2 victory over Ottawa on Saturday. The men faced a tougher outing against the Gee-Gees, falling 6–1. Together, the results gave the Marauders a 6–8 record across the two matchups.

Both teams returned to the court Sunday against TMU and combined for 12 wins in 15 matches. It was a strong response to Saturday's mixed results and gave McMaster a winning record for the weekend overall.

The women's victory over Ottawa set the tone, while Sunday's performance gave the men an opportunity to respond after their opening loss. Across the two days, the Marauders finished with 18 wins in 29 matches against Ottawa and TMU.

The weekend offered McMaster another chance to build match experience as the season continues. With a victory for the women on Saturday and a dominant combined showing on Sunday, the Marauders ended their back-to-back competition on a high note.

Field Hockey
September 24th- T: 1-1 at Western | Box Score

The McMaster Marauders earned their first point of the season, drawing 1-1 with the Western Mustangs. Just six minutes into the match, second-year forward, Charley Weir (Sydenham, Ont.), scored McMaster's first goal of the season. McMaster held the lead into half-time but would eventually allow Western to tie the game up where the game ended at 1 apiece. 

September 26th- L: 0-3 vs Guelph | Box Score

After securing their first point of the season, the McMaster Marauders were looking to build on the momentum. Unfortunately, they were unable to do so as they fell 3-0 to the Guelph Gryphons bringing their record to 0-5-1 through six games. 

Up next, the Marauders are back home where they take on the University of Waterloo on Saturday, Oct 3rd at 1pm.

Golf
September 26th/27th - Waterloo Open

The McMaster Marauders golf teams turned in a pair of strong performances at the Brock Invitational at Sawmill Golf Course, highlighted by a second-place finish from the women's team.

McMaster's women combined for a team score of 247, finishing just five strokes behind Guelph for the top spot. Kaylee Jeon led the Marauders with a round of 77, finishing just two strokes behind the individual leader. Shanya Christian followed with an 85, while Jimin Kim carded an 87. Emma Magee rounded out McMaster's competitors with a score of 105.

On the men's side, McMaster finished fifth in the team standings with a combined score of 318. Liam Ferney and Rowan Reynard led the way for the Marauders, each firing rounds of 77. Miles Chute, Matthew Martel and Sai Ganju each finished with scores of 82.

McMaster also had three individual entries in the men's competition. Sullivan McDaniel posted an 80, Nick Tripp finished with an 85 and Christian Ligori recorded an 87.

The Marauders will return to the course as they continue their fall schedule.

Men's Lacrosse
September 26th- L: 13-15 vs Toronto 

The McMaster Marauders fell 15-13 to the Toronto Varsity Blues Saturday evening at Alumni Field. McMaster came out strong offensively, scoring six goals in the opening quarter to establish an early lead. Brennan Mee opened the scoring for the Marauders before Caelan Mander and Ryan Bellamy added goals to give McMaster early momentum. 

The Marauders continued to find the back of the net in the second quarter, with Lincoln Gear scoring twice, including a power-play goal, to help McMaster maintain its offensive pressure heading into halftime.

Toronto responded in the second half, scoring multiple goals to shift the momentum in favour of the Varsity Blues. McMaster continued to battle, with Caelan Mander and Lincoln Gear finding the back of the net to keep the Marauders within reach.

McMaster mounted a late push in the fourth quarter, scoring three times in the final 12 minutes. Brennan Mee and Lincoln Gear each added goals during the late surge, but Toronto held on to secure the 15-13 victory.

The loss moves McMaster to 1-4 on the season. 

The Marauders will return to action Friday, October 9, when they host the Nipissing Lakers at 8:00 p.m. at Alumni Field. McMaster will look to regroup and return to the win column in its next contest. 

Women's Lacrosse
September 27th- L: 4-19 at Guelph 
September 27th- L: 5-14 at Brock

The McMaster Marauders continued their 2026 women's tennis campaign with a pair of strong results over the weekend, earning a 5-2 victory over the University of Ottawa on Saturday before recording a 12-3 result against Toronto Metropolitan University on Sunday.

McMaster opened the weekend against Ottawa, competing across singles and doubles play. The Marauders secured five match victories to earn the 5-2 team win over the Gee-Gees. The Marauders returned to the court Sunday against Toronto Metropolitan, continuing their weekend schedule with another strong team performance. McMaster recorded a 12-3 result against TMU to close out the weekend. 

The results give McMaster positive momentum as the Marauders continue their 2026 OUA campaign. The team will look to carry its strong weekend performance into its next matchup. McMaster will return to action on Saturday, October 3, when the Marauders travel to face the Brock Badgers at Brock Tennis Courts. The match will mark McMaster's next opportunity to continue its strong start to the 2026 season.

Upcoming Events (Sept 28 - Oct 4)

September 28
Golf at Guelph Open #2

October 1
6:00pm: Women's Volleyball at Mohawk
7:00pm: Men's Volleyball at Brandon

October 2
4:30pm: Men's Volleyball at Manitoba (Exhibition)
6:00pm: Men's Basketball vs Humber (Exhibition)
6:00pm: Women's Soccer at Laurier
7:00pm: Fast Pitch vs Brock
8:15pm: Men's Soccer at Laurier
9:00pm: Fast Pitch vs Brock

October 3
8:30am: Women's Lacrosse at Laurier
12:00pm: Baseball at Windsor 
12:00pm: Tennis at Brock
1:00pm: Women's Rugby at Brock
1:00pm: Field Hockey vs Waterloo
1:45pm: Women's Lacrosse at Western
2:00pm: Fast Pitch vs Guelph 
3:00pm: Baseball at Windsor 
4:00pm: Fast Pitch vs Guelph 
4:30pm: Men's Volleyball vs Winnipeg 
6:00pm: Men's Basketball at Mohawk 
8:00pm: Men's Rugby vs Western
Golf at Windsor Open
Rowing at Head of the Trent
Swimming at Niagara 
Cross Country at Don Mills Open

October 4 
11:00am: Fast Pitch vs Western
11:00am: Men's Volleyball vs Saskatchewan 
12:00pm: Tennis at Toronto 
1:00pm: Fast Pitch vs Western
2:00pm: Field Hockey at Toronto
4:00pm: Women's Soccer vs York
6:15pm: Men's Soccer vs York
Golf at Windsor Open