Golden Hawks Come Close to Upset of Undefeated Mustangs

The Laurier Golden Hawks may have showed as much in a Week 4 CUFLA loss as they have in their trio of victories in the 2023 season. 

Laurier went to visit the perennial power and currently undefeated Western Mustangs on Saturday, September 30 and put together a furious comeback to come within a single goal of the Mustangs in a 5-4 loss. 

Western opened the scoring with Connor Murphy getting the only goal of the first quarter. The Mustangs continued to control the scoreboard with a 3-0 second quarter when Max Brook sandwiched a pair of goals around one by Jacob Hickey. Three and a half minutes into the third quarter, Murphy scored again and it looked like the romp was on with the Mustangs up 5-0.

But Laurier—who has wins over McMaster, Toronto and Laurentian so far this year—wasn't about to give up. Hawks goalie Dante Mancini didn't give up a goal the rest of the way and they got on the board when Thomas McDonald scored on the power play with 10 minutes to play in the third. Three of Western's goals had come on the power play. 

Fourth-quarter scoring was all Laurier. Ronan Lamarche scored then Liam Glover. When McDonald connected for his second of the game with just 52 seconds left, the Golden Hawks were within a goal. They weren't able to get the equalizer, but they served notice to teams in the Western Conference that they can not be taken lightly. 

Week 4 scores

Wednesday September 27
Western 16, McMaster 1

Friday September 29
Carleton 11, Queen's 10

Saturday September 30
Brock 21, Laurentian 0
Bishop's 11, Ottawa 5
Western 5, Laurier 4
McGill 9, Queen's 5
Guelph 10, Toronto 7

Sunday October 1
Carleton 10, Bishop's 3
Guelph 12, Nipissing 1