Back-to-back wins for Mac
The weekend featured back-to-back games for McMaster. First, Mac took on the University of Guelph Gryphons at home, and then headed on the road to Oshawa to take on the UOIT Ridgebacks.
The Marauders returned to the win column after defeating Guelph 3-1. The scoring began with Gersi Xhuti netting his third goal of the season from inside the box in the 26th minute.
The Marauder lead would stand for only eight minutes, as the Gryphons would beat the Mac defense to tie the game up. The goal was spurred by a long Guelph throw and would eventually find the back of the net after hectic action deep in McMaster’s own end.
Mac’s offense broke loose after the Gryphons’ first goal, scoring two goals in the next four minutes of play. The Gryphons defense was unable to control the Maroon attack, as Paterson Farrell broke the 1-1 tie in the 37th minute. The team’s leading goal scorer would knock home the eventual game winner after a free kick from McMaster caused chaos in front of the Guelph net.
The game would be put out of reach after defenseman Robert Schlosser found teammate Andrew Pastoric on a cross in the 40th minute. Pastoric’s goal was the first of his career and put the nail in the Gryphon’s coffin.
On Sunday, the Marauders boarded the team bus heading to Durham Region to take on the Ridgebacks. This match would net more promising results, as McMaster shut out UOIT 1-0.
McMaster displayed determination on Sunday, dominating the seventh-place UOIT team. Andrew Pastoric would score his second goal of the 2012 campaign in the third minute of the game to give the Marauders their second win in a row.
At the final whistle, McMaster led the shot totals 13-2 and showed discipline in their win, earning no cards from the referee. Second-year goalkeeper Angelo Cavalluzzo earned his first clean sheet of the year, continuing his strong season.
On Friday, Coach Dino Perri and his squad will take his team to St. Catherines and play the winless Brock Badgers. Mac currently sits at second place in the OUA East and will aim to catch the leading York Lions.
