With quarter of the women’s soccer season gone, the Western Mustangs got back in the winning column with a 1-0 victory over Brock at home. Heading into the game with a record of 1 win and back-to-back scoreless draws, the purple and white wanted to keep their streak alive while handing the visiting Badgers their first loss of the season. The opening half at Mustang stadium was essentially a stalemate, with neither team advancing the ball despite Western leading in shots 5-0, 2 of which were on goal. The action remained primarily in midfield, outside of a pair of corner kicks for the Mustangs for the first 30 minutes of play.  However, just before the clock hit the 36th minute, 3rd year midfielder #14 Kendra Marlatt slotted a nice feed to sophomore #19 Giula Geraci. The Bradford, Ontario native drilled the ball into the net, putting Western on the board. This was her third goal of the 2018 season, continuing her all-star form of last year. Kelowna’s Morgan Asling and Mississauga’s Julia Crnjac rounded out the home team’s scoring attempts to close the first half. Brock recorded zero shots in the opening 45.

The second half, while ending scoreless, was firmly in the Mustang’s control. Managing 10 shots, 6 on net, Western came onto the field firing on all cylinders. It was a team effort to pull out the victory, yet was simultaneously a one woman show. Crnjac was everywhere in the final frame. The 5th year striker out of Health Sciences had several chances to bust the game wide open. Battling for the ball, opening passing lanes, and firing 2 shots on net, the veteran striker kept the momentum squarely with Western in a multitude of ways. As noted though, this was an all-around team win for the Mustangs. Goalie Megan Giradi, 3rd year Kinesiology student, saved Brock’s two on net attempts, with her defensemen preventing several Badger rushes from reaching the penalty area. Maddy Johnston, Melanie Waters, Alyssa Desantis, Crnjac, and Geraci combined for the 6 Mustang shots on goal during the last 45.  Western has the week off before playing Waterloo on Sunday September 9th, finishing up their three game homestand. Brock travels back to St. Catharines for their September 8th home opener,facing Guelph.