The Ontario University Athletics (OUA) West division’s sixth-seeded Brock Badgers fell 4-1 to the third-seeded Guelph Gryphons in the first round of OUA women’s soccer playoff action on Oct. 25th.
The tough road loss in Guelph ended the Badgers up-and-down season with a 3-6-4 record overall (three wins, six losses and four draws).
The Badgers were up against fierce competition, facing a Guelph side that won eight of 12 games this season including being red-hot down the stretch.
Coming into the playoffs, the Gryphons won their final three games of the season by a combined 6-0 score, while outshooting their opponents 48-6 in that span. Guelph carried that dominant mindset right into the matchup against Brock, getting on the front foot early.
Seven minutes into the game, Olivia Rizakos opened the scoring for Guelph, scoring her fifth goal of the season and the first of two goals for her on the night. Rizakos’ teammate Olivia Brown followed suit nine minutes later burying Guelph’s second of the night to extend the home side’s lead.
Things got even worse for the Badgers before the half-hour mark of the game. In the 28th minute, Rizakos scored her second of the game from Haley Ward’s assist, giving the Gryphons a commanding 3-0 lead.
However, in first half stoppage time the Badgers answered back, giving them some life heading into halftime. Brianna Bishop, Brock’s set-piece specialist, crossed the ball in from the corner kick which found centre-back Grace Tawil for her first of the season to get the Badgers on the board.
Despite the glimmer of hope, the score remained 3-1 Guelph until the 90th minute.
After an uneventful second half where there were only five shots total – one for Brock and four for Guelph – the Gryphons scored again to solidify their spot in the OUA quarterfinals. Tessa Ladhani netted the fourth Guelph goal which earned them the 4-1 win over Brock.
The disappointing loss for the Badgers also signified the end of the university athletics career for four exceptionally talented Brock soccer players: Emma Hendrie, Grace Tawil, Adrianna Belfer-Marin and Luisa Argento de Almeida.
Hendrie, Brock’s star goalkeeper, played a pivotal role in the success of the Badgers this season. The Sault Ste Marie-native appeared in nine games this season and registered 26 saves, many of which were high-quality saves from point-blank range.
Centre-back Tawil started all 13 games for the Badgers this season and played a crucial role in Brock’s defence as the centrepiece of the backline. The Mathematics and Statistics major finished her OUA career with two goals in 35 appearances.
Belfer-Marin, the Mississauga-native, appeared in 14 games for the Badgers over two seasons – 2019 and 2021 – registering five shots on goal and one goal in her OUA career.
Almeida, the Brazilian midfielder, appeared in two games for the Badgers this season, including the decisive season finale against York that earned her team a spot in the playoffs.
The Badgers will be looking for revenge against the Gryphons and all their OUA West rivals next season as they contend for the championship. Stay tuned to The Brock Press for all you need to know about the Brock Badgers women’s soccer team in anticipation for the 2024 season.