Thursday, January 1, 2026
Brock's Only Independent Student Newspaper
One of the only worker-managed newspapers in Canada

Brock Men’s Soccer stun defending champions in home opener

|
|

Recap of the men’s soccer game vs McMaster 

The Brock Badgers men’s soccer team roared to life in their home opener, stunning defending OUA champions, the McMaster Marauders, with a 1-0 victory, on home turf at Alumni Field.  

In a match that had Badgers fans on the edge of their seats, senior winger Marc Iantomasi became the hero for the Badgers. He found the back of the net in the 74th minute, securing the triumph over the nationally ranked No. 9 Marauders. Third-year goalkeeper Taylor Miskolczi played a pivotal role in this victory, registering a clean sheet with two crucial saves. 

The pivotal moment in the game came when third-year striker Michael Solomon, who came on as a substitute in the 54th minute for Mateo Puentes, provided the assist for Iantomasi’s decisive goal. Puentes himself was instrumental, finishing the game with a pair of shots and adding a much-needed push to the Badgers’ offence. 

Although the Badgers sat back and did not have much of the possession, they displayed their offensive prowess on the counterattack throughout the game, outshooting McMaster 9-6. In the first half alone, they delivered three corner kicks, showing their intent to seize control of the match. On the other side, the Marauders were more aggressive in terms of fouls, committing 10 compared to Brock’s seven. 

The game was not without its share of drama, with several cautions and ejections. Amir Shirazi of McMaster received a caution in the 17th minute, followed by Joseph Guindy in the 44th minute. Luca Ragagnin from Brock was cautioned in the 67th minute, and Jacobo Cordon Cruz from McMaster followed suit in the 85th minute. In the final minutes of the match, Luca Danesi of Brock and Gianluca Spadafora of McMaster received cautions. 

The victory marked an impressive start to the regular season for the Brock Badgers, who improved their record to 1-0-0. On Sunday, the Badgers took on McMaster in Hamilton, but this time the Mauraders would be only ones to score, winning the game 1-0. The Badgers now sit at .500 after the first weekend of play.   

As the Badgers celebrate their triumphant home opener, the question on everyone’s mind is whether they can maintain their winning momentum throughout the season and potentially clinch the OUA championship themselves. With performances like this, they certainly seem poised for greatness. 

For more information on the Brock men’s soccer team visit gobadgers.ca 

More by this author

RELATED ARTICLES

Tardif becomes Brock’s First CPL Draft pick 

Gabriel Tardif’s path through university soccer has reached a critical moment, one that signals a new milestone for Brock men’s soccer. The second-year midfielder has been chosen ninth overall by Atlético Ottawa in the opening round of the 2025 Canadian Premier League U SPORTS Draft, a selection announced on Nov. 28 that marks the first time a player from Brock’s men’s program has been drafted into Canada’s top professional league.

Visa dispute strains US-Iran World Cup plans  

The United States has refused entry visas to several members of the Iranian delegation scheduled to attend the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a move that prompted the Iran Football Federation (FFIRI) to initially boycott the event. 

Michigan State is college basketball’s most fun watch  

We're now a month into the NCAA men’s basketball season, and so far, there hasn't been a more exciting team to watch than the Michigan State Spartans. Head Coach Tom Izzo continues to amaze us with a recent string of impressive seasons, during which his teams have consistently exceeded pre-season expectations. Although they’re only nine games into the 2025-26 campaign, Michigan State University (MSU) has not only been on a complete tear but has done so with the utmost charisma.

Brock Women’s volleyball climbs national ranks heading into Christmas  

The Brock Badgers women’s volleyball team has silenced all doubters as they finished the first half of the season with an outstanding 9-1 record heading into winter break. 

A Night with the Boys in Blue: Toronto Maple Leafs versus the Saint Louis Blues 

The platform for the Union Station Lakeshore West train is packed, with bodies bumping into bodies as hundreds of people wearing blue and white pile out of the train. There is no denying that fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs are loyal, because even in the midst of a five-game losing streak, people are still out in droves to see their team play.

Badgers overwhelm Algoma with second-quarter run  

Brock women’s basketball finished the month of November with a decisive home win, pulling away from the Algoma Thunderbirds with a 89-53 victory at Bob Davis Gymnasium on Nov. 29. The result moved Brock to six-four on the season, while Algoma remained winless at 0-10. 

The hidden bias in sports broadcasting  

Broadcasts of women’s sports continue to differ from men’s coverage in ways that are visible, documented and traceable to specific on-air decisions. Across basketball, soccer and tennis, clear examples show how women are described and analyzed differently, while also given different production treatment, even in the highest profile competitions.

Badgers fall hard in loss to the Mustangs  

After five consecutive wins, the Brock Badgers men's basketball team fell to the third-ranked Western Mustangs on Nov. 15 in blowout fashion.