Forecasting expectations for each of the Badgers’ outdoor sports teams based on their 2022 season performances.
The Brock Badgers are looking to bring home numerous trophies and banners this year as the various outdoor varsity seasons begin this week. While previewing the expectations for each team in 2023, here is a look back at how they performed last season.
Men’s Soccer (last season: 4-4-5 record)
The men’s soccer team began the 2022 campaign hot, winning four of their first five games, allowing only one goal in that span.
A young attacking line of Luca Danesi, Tiago Pereira and Noah DeDominicis led the way scoring five of the 11 Badgers goals last season.
The trio will look to build off their rookie OUA seasons, as they hope to propel the Badgers past the first round of the playoffs where they were eliminated last season in penalties against the Guelph Gryphons.
Women’s Soccer (last season: 5-6-2 record)
The women’s soccer team had an up and down year in 2022, which included only one win at home in comparison to four wins away from Brock.
In the away games, the Badgers found success at Algoma, Waterloo, Western and Wilfrid Laurier, which are all teams that Brock will be facing again in 2023.
Led by striker Sabrina Bisante and her team-leading five goals in 2022, Brock will look to avenge their playoff loss to McMaster, as they open the season with a home-and-home weekend series against the Marauders.
Men’s Rugby (last season: 3-4 record)
After losing the season opener to Western last year, the men’s rugby team bounced back winning three of the next four including a 52-5 shellacking of the Toronto Varsity Blues.
That run led to the Badgers qualifying for the playoffs as the sixth seed.
In the quarterfinal on the road against third seeded Guelph, the Badgers battled hard in every scrum forcing the Gryphons to earn every yard they gained. Luke Bagshaw had 12 points on the day and was a pivotal piece in Brock being neck-and-neck with the third seed all match.
Brock lost by a singular point in the elimination game, but they will be going into 2023 with a chip on their shoulder as expectations are higher than ever for the squad.
Women’s Rugby (last season: 4-4 record)
The women’s rugby team had a tough start to 2022, losing the first two games by a combined 84 points. However, the team was relentless and continued to battle throughout the season and will look for that same mindset in 2023.
Brock ended up winning their next three games, which led them to the playoffs against McMaster. In that game, the Badgers were down early but their relentlessness and tenacity spurred them to a seven-point win.
The team ultimately lost to the Guelph Gryphons in the semifinals, but the key lessons learned throughout the year are critical if the Badgers want to have a deeper run in the playoffs this year.
Men’s Lacrosse (last season: 9-5 record)
The men’s lacrosse team competed in their fourth Baggataway Cup Final since 2017 last season, losing to Trent University 12-3.
The Badgers were very dominant during the season, winning seven regular season games by wide margins, including a 17-4 thumping of the Laurentian Voyageurs in the season opener and 12-4 in Toronto against the Varsity Blues.
Brock will look to continue their strong regular season success, as they push for their 20th Baggataway Cup Championship in school history.
Women’s Lacrosse (last season: 0-13-1 record)
The women’s lacrosse team had a tough season a year ago and will look to rebound the program to better results this season.
The Badgers drew McMaster 8-8 in their second and final home game in 2022 and will look to that result as inspiration and motivation as the campaign begins this time around.
Men’s Baseball (last season: 11-7 record)
The men’s baseball team had a solid season in 2023, including a 9-5 record versus conference opponents which comprises of their 4-0 record against the York Lions.
However, the Badgers struggled versus the Guelph Gryphons, losing all four of their meetings with them, including the OUA Regional Final.
The team has Sept. 24th circled on their calendar as they play a doubleheader in Guelph with aspirations of obliterating them and stealing their title of Regional Champions this October.
Women’s Softball (last season: 18-5 record)
The women’s softball team won nine of ten games at home last year, with a +68-run differential at St. Catharine’s Lancaster Park.
Their strong play at home kickstarted their dominant season which led them right into the playoffs. In the playoffs, the Badgers fell to the Queen’s Gaels early, however, two straight playoff wins versus Ottawa and Toronto pushed them into the OUS Bronze Medal Game against the Gaels.
Brock lost again to Queen’s despite a strong effort and finished fourth in the league. The Badgers will be eager to get on the podium this season.
The entire Brock Badgers schedule for all sports can be found here.