Rise of the Three Seeds

Both lower-seeded teams won in the Baggataway Cup quarterfinals Friday, setting up a pair of rivalry matches in the semifinals including a rematch of last year's championship game. 

McGill Redbirds 13, Western Mustangs 9

Both teams had to deal with adversity, Western before the game and McGill during it. The Mustang bus broke down on the highway en route from London to Peterborough, where the Baggataway Cup is being played in Trent's Justin Chiu Stadium.

The players were able to make it in plenty of time for the 4:30 game, thanks largely to parents who swung by the bus to pick up players and take them the rest of the way. 

For McGill, the adversity was a combination of a deflating strange play and an injury. 

The teams were tied 3-3 after the first quarter and 5-5 at half time. In the second half, McGill surrendered a goal when Dylan James picked up a ground ball off a rebound and, sensing some forecheck pressure, passed the ball back to goalie Joseph Boehm. Unfortunately for James, Boehm was in the process of stepping outside the post to get away from the goal itself and the pass rolled agonizingly slowly into the net. 

His teammates picked James up and took control of the game, especially in the fourth quarter. After Isaiah Cree, Rowan Birrell and Cameron McGinnis had each scored a goal in a 3-2 third in the Redbirds favour, the same trio added a goal each to open the fourth. That put McGill up 11-7 and the Redbirds were able to close out the game alternating goals to maintain their 4-goal lead. 

Cree was named the McGill player of the game after an outstanding performance that saw him score 5 goals and add an assist. Birrell chipped in 4 goals and a helper. McGinnis, who played the game with heavy bracing on his right leg and appeared to be labouring when he ran, had a hat trick and an assist but went down late in the game and was unable to get up without help. He was assisted off the field and spent the rest of the game on crutches. 

Scott Del Zotto led Western with 4 goals and was named their player of the game. 

McGill advances to face East rival Trent Excalibur, the host and division top seed, in the first semifinal at 1:30 pm ET. 

The game, as are all 2022 Baggataway Cup games, is being streamed on Lax Sports Network.