Homecoming Weekend Sports Recap
Football -- McMaster 28, Queen's 19
The football team remains undefeated in a 28-19 win over Queen’s in front of a sellout crowd. Quarterback Marshall Ferguson spread the ball to eight different receivers to toss 376 total yards with two touchdowns. Chris Pezzetta also tallied a solid 154 yards rushing. Kicker Tyler Crapigna hit a 41-yarder to give him 76 all-time, and is just one below the record set by Western’s Lirim Hajrullahu for OUA’s all-time career leader in field goals. Sherbrooke’s William Dion holds the CIS record with 82 career field goals. The Marauders travel next to Western in a battle of undefeated teams.
Soccer -- Men's: McMaster 1, Guelph 2; Women's: McMaster 1, Guelph 1
Both men’s and women’s soccer went to Guelph. The men suffered their first loss on Saturday in a 2-1 effort as Mark Reilly scored his team-leading sixth goal of the season with the hope of a comeback in the 77th minute. Sunday’s game at McMaster fared much better in a 3-1 victory over Waterloo with a convincing second half with goals at the 65th, 79th, and 80th minute marks. They slip to third with a 6-1-2 record in the West OUA division.
The women lost the lead late in a 1-1 draw with midfielder Maureen Mai having an unrelenting offensive attack with the team’s lone goal, and five shots with three of those on target. A 74th-minute strike by Guelph resulted in the draw. The return back to McMaster did not fare better as the team was not able to complete the comeback, losing 4-3 to Waterloo. An explosive start to the second half to put Waterloo up 4-1 was nearly nullified with two late-game goals, but it was too little, too late. They slip to sixth with a 3-5-1 record, and travel with the men’s team to face Brock next.
Rugby -- Men's: McMaster 18, Queen's 13; Women: 27, Queen's 27
Men’s rugby improved to 5-0 while handing Queen’s their first loss of the season in an 18-13 game. The team was able to respond quickly to offensive pressure in an extremely back-and-forth effort by both teams. With their 18 points, the Marauders surpassed the total of 17 that Queen’s had conceded through their first four games of the season. McMaster travels to face Brock next.
Women’s rugby gave up a 17-point lead to draw against Guelph 27-27. With McMaster captain Cindy Nelles in the penalty box, Guelph capitalized with two tries and one hit convert to make it 27-22. In the dying moments of the game, Guelph made the try, but the potentially game-winning convert hit the upright and bounced wide. The team faces Toronto next at McMaster’s Back Ten field.
