MAC ENDS REGULAR SEASON WITH LOSS TO GUELPH

The Marauders hosted Guelph in their last regular season game for 2013 Sunday afternoon, but couldn’t keep up as they fell to a 14-8 loss.

Mark Phillips coming off of a career high game Friday night put in another five goals to tie his best Sunday afternoon, putting in his first at 2:20 into the first quarter to get McMaster on the Board with a one point edge. Guelph would answer shortly after with back-to-back goals before Ryan Adams would toss one in to end the first tied at 2.

The second would start with Phillips finding the back of the net once again, giving McMaster the lead; but there would be a case of déjà vu as Guelph put in two more. Phillips sealed his hat trick in an attempt to keep the Marauders within reach. It wouldn’t be long until Guelph’s leading scorer, Ryan Serville would put in back-to-back goals to end the first half and start a goal streak for the Gryphons.

At the end of the first half Guelph led 6-4.

Guelph’s goal streak that was started by Serville wouldn’t be broken up until 19:55 into the third quarter when Phillips would put in his fourth of the night and the lone Marauder goal of the quarter.

Going into the fourth McMaster trailed Guelph by 5.

Guelph’s Jordan Critch would start off the scoring in the fourth, but McMaster would answer four minutes later with a goal from Kyle Lindsay on the man up with his first of the quarter, followed by Phillips to cut the deficit to 4. Guelph wasn’t done as they put in three more before Lindsay’s second of the game, which would be the final goal.

After this weekend Phillips moves to 5^th in goals in the CUFLA standings with a total of 31. Phillips has a total of 32 points with 31 goals and a single helper. This season he has doubled his goals from 2012.

McMaster ends the regular season ranked fourth in the OUA west with a 5 and 7 record. The Marauders will be on the road next weekend to take on Guelph once again. Follow @McMasterLax on twitter for live game updates on the road.

MCMASTER CLINCHES PLAYOFFS WITH WIN FRIDAY NIGHT

Friday Night McMaster won their second straight at home, after topping Laurier 10-9 for the second time this season. Mark Phillips led the Marauders, putting in five goals.

Laurier’s Brandon Petter would score the first of the game at 3:45 to get Laurier on the board. McMaster would answer on the man up with a goal from Kyle Lindsay after connecting with Iszkula. Phillips would put in back to back goals in the first, but with a goal just over 18 minutes in from Laurier, they would end the first tied at 3.

McMaster wouldn’t take the lead back until 15:40 in the second quarter, but they managed to keep the lead for the duration of the game. Phillips put in the last goal of the first half and started off a 4-goal streak for the Marauders.

Keir Thornborow broke up McMaster’s 4-goal streak later in the third; as the lone goal throughout the quarter for Laurier. The Golden Hawks’ attempt to come back in the third wasn’t enough as Phillips put in his fifth of the game for Mac’s 10^th and final goal.

With the win over Laurier, the Marauders clinch their playoff spot. Their last appearance in playoffs were last year, but lost in their first game against Brock. McMaster’s last championship was in 2010 after entering playoffs with a .500 record in the regular season. The Marauders host Guelph Sunday in an afternoon match up at Alumni field for their last regular season game.

MARAUDERS MOVE TO FOURTH IN CUFLA STANDINGS WITH WIN OVER TORONTO

The Marauders had seven different goal scorers Friday night including Tristan Schram and Lucas Lepore with their first goals of the season. Mitch Iszkula led the Marauders with a six-point performance (3+3). Mark Phillips and Carter Williams both with four point games.

The Marauders would start off the first with back-to-back goals with the first from Kyle Lindsay and followed by Mitch Iszkula, both goals with the assist from Carter Williams. It would take Toronto almost five minutes before finding the back of the net, before the Marauders would have a three-point goal streak. The streak included back-to-back goals from Phillips and another from Iszkula.

The Marauders led by three going into the second quarter, but wouldn’t put anything up on the board until Phillips ripped one at 16:29 to start a five goal streak that would carry into the third. The streak was broken up by Michael Buwalda; the leading scorer for Toronto, who put in four of the five goals for the Blues.

McMaster would play a portion of the fourth on the man down but with strong penalty kills would only give up one goal on the Blue’s power play to Justin Crofts. As for the Marauders, they managed to capitalize twice on the man up scoring on two power play occasions… once from Iszkula and the second from Lucas Lepore.

With Friday Night’s 13-7 win the Marauders move to a 4-6 record and keep their playoff hopes alive. Their next game will be at Alumni Field against the Laurier Golden Hawks on Friday the 18th in a 7 o’clock match up.

MCMASTER HOSTS TORONTO FRIDAY NIGHT

Friday Night the Marauders host Toronto at 7pm for the first of three home games. Toronto is currently just above McMaster in the standings, and with a Mac win, will be tied. The Marauders headed to Toronto back in September when they kicked off their 2013 season.
The last time they played against each other McMaster came out with an 8-5 win, and was led by Carter Williams with three goals and a helper to total four points. Mark Phillips put in three goals. Phillips and Williams are currently both tied for points to lead the Marauders.

As for Toronto Andrew Masson and Michael Buwalda combined have put in 78 percent of the goals for the team this season. Masson put in two against the Marauders while Buwalda put in one.

Buwalda put in three goals in Toronto’s game last week against Western, but it wasn’t enough to beat the Mustangs as they fell to a 9-5 loss.
As for McMaster both Mark Phillips and Mitch Iszkula put in two goals against Brock along with Derrick Hastings who found the back of the net for one. McMaster fell to a 15-5 loss on the road last Sunday.

McMaster is currently 3-6 this season, but continues to keep their playoff hopes alive. The last three games of this season will be played at home. For live game updates follow @McMasterLax on twitter.

MCMASTER HEADS TO LAURIER TO TAKE ON GOLDEN HAWKS

McMaster starts off their weekend on the road as they head to Laurier for an eight o’clock game. They have yet to meet up this season, and McMaster looks to turn around their 4 game losing streak. Their last game was Wednesday night at home against the Brock Badgers where they fell to an 8-1 loss. Mark Phillips had the lone goal for Mac early on in the first. Phillips is now at 11 goals so far this season. He lead the Marauders in goals and is second in points following Carter Williams. 

As for Laurier they have yet to win a game this season, and have a total of 81 goals against averaging 13 a game.  Laurier played in Guelph Wednesday night and lost 14-7.  Drew Barefoot led with two goals while Jordan Bennett put in a goal and a helper for two points throughout the night.

Since 2006 McMaster and Laurier have met up a total of 12 times in regular season. Throughout the Regular season McMaster has beaten Laurier a total of 10 times. In 2012, McMaster lost both games against Laurier totalling 17 goals for and 24 against. 

For live game updates follow @McMasterLax on Twitter.