Sept. 16 Brock report: Spagnolo, Bocock earn weekly awards
Women’s soccer goalkeeper Marilena Spagnolo and men’s rugby prop George Bocock were named Brock University athletes of the week.
Spagnolo, a Sir Winston Churchill grad, recorded a career-high 16 saves en route to backstopping the women’s soccer team to their first victory of the season, a 2-0 victory over McMaster at Brock Alumni Field. Spagnolo then posted her second consecutive shutout with eight saves during a 0-0 draw versus the York Lions in Toronto. Spagnolo is a fourth-year keeper from St. Catharines who is studying applied health sciences.
Bocock scored two tries to lift the Brock men’s rugby team to a 38-17 road victory over the McMaster Marauders. His two tries were a career high. Bocock played a full 80 minutes and was dominant in the scrum. He also displayed great on-field leadership. Bocock is a third-year prop from Harley, Ont., who is studying business economics.
STEEL BLADE RECAP
The Guelph Gryphons captured their fourth Steel Blade Classic hockey game as they slipped by the Brock Badgers 4-1 in front of a sold out crowd of 4,752 fans at the Meridian Centre Friday.
Guelph is now 2-2 against Brock in Steel Blade action at the Meridian Centre, which was sold out for a second-consecutive year.
“It was a great atmosphere and that gives you chills when you get out there,” Brock head coach Marty Williamson said. “If you put 4,700 fans in a building cheering on two teams, the emotions are going to go through the roof. They’re going to give it their all.”
After a scoreless first period, the Gryphons exploded for three consecutive goals in the second courtesy of Connor Bramwell, Stephen Templeton and Giordano Finoro.
Badgers newcomer Jordan Sambrook scored from the point during a power play to end Guelph’s bid for a shutout in the third, before Andrew Dodson added one for Guelph near the end of the game to make it a 4-1 final.
“The Steel Blade Classic sets the tempo for the hockey season,” Guelph head coach Shawn Camp said. “This game means so much to us because it’s historical and it’s a privilege for our team. There’s an education piece to this game.”
Williamson said the Badgers left opportunities out on the ice.
“I liked our compete and we had our chances, but we didn’t finish,” he said. “The scoring chances were pretty even, but credit to their goalie.”
The Badgers will now play a month of exhibition games in preparation for their home opener against Toronto on Oct. 10.
Brock Sports Associate Director Emily Allan presented a donation of more than $4,752 to the Brock University Students’ Union Food First Program as a result of student ticket sales to Friday’s game.
MEN’S SOCCER
The men’s soccer team defeated the nationally ranked McMaster Marauders 4-2 Saturday to remain undefeated
“Being the underdog is a great spot to be in sometimes,” Brock head coach Lucio Ianiero said. “We have an unbelievable work rate and we’re a bit of an unknown quantity. It’s difficult for opposing teams to study our formation, because we’re always changing, always adapting.”
Brock outshot McMaster 20-14.
Badgers centre back Joshua Paterson opened the scoring early with a beautiful bicycle kick during a goalmouth scramble in the eighth minute. The Marauders pulled off a bicycle kick goal of their own as Christian Cossidente netted one to tie the game up before halftime.
The Badgers took the lead three times in the match despite the Marauders doing a good job of countering Brock’s midfield play, according to Ianiero.
“They read us in the second half and put four guys in the midfield to our three,” he said. “We didn’t adapt well to that and we thought about matching them, but our three players up front were having so much success that we didn’t want to pull any of them off. We kind of rolled the dice on that one.”
The coaching staff’s faith in their forwards paid off as first-year striker Sebastian Augdo of St. Catharines found the back of the net.
McMaster tied it up once more before Jared Agyemang netted a penalty kick goal and Jordan Smalling delivered the dagger for his first of the season.
Agyemang has scored a goal in every match thus far and is currently second in OUA scoring with four markers.
The Badgers then suffered their first loss of the season with a 3-0 defeat to the No. 4 York Lions in Toronto Sunday.
“Our guys battled well and never quit,” Ianiero said. “We made two mistakes and they capitalized. They are a very good team and are extremely technical and fast on transition.”
Badgers centre midfielder Michael Fernandez and striker Sebastian Agudo each recorded a shot.
For the Lions, Merci Yuma, Christian Cavallini and Soji Olatoye each scored a goal in the first half, and edged Brock in corners 3-2.
Up next, the Badgers (2-1-2) travel to Western on Sept. 21 and Windsor Sept. 22. Both games start at 3:15 p.m.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Spagnolo recorded a career-high 16 saves to backstop the women’s soccer team to a 2-0 victory over the McMaster Marauders at Brock Alumni Field on Saturday.
The victory was Brock’s first of the season.
Spagnolo stood on her head as the Marauders poured on 28 shots.
“We controlled the pace of the game and capitalized on multiple occasions,” Spagnolo said. “As well as on defence we controlled their strikers shutting them down.”
First-year midfielder Ivana Kanisek slipped behind the Marauders’ defence and recorded her first goal as a Badger in the 35th minute.
Sydney Sica gave Brock a two-goal lead with her first goal of the campaign during the 53rd minute in the second half.
The Badgers have changed playing styles under interim head coach Lucio Ianiero, which means they’re focusing on possession rather than sending long balls down the field.
“Our message for the girls is to go out there and play with some confidence,” Ianiero said. “We want more short passing and you saw that today as we moved the ball around very well.”
Brock goalkeeper coach Mike Folino said Spagnolo’s training is what sets her apart.
“Marilena wants perfection,” said Folino, who works with Spagnolo and the other Brock keepers three times a week. “Her training is superior and in conjunction with her leadership on and off the field you just get this elite talent.”
Spagnolo was extra motivated heading into her senior season. She credits Brock strength and conditioning coach Vicki Bendus and the Brock Sports Performance staff with giving her an edge on the field.
“Consistency is the main factor and taking care of the body during times of fatigue,” said Spagnolo, who followed their workout plans religiously during the summer.
Spagnolo followed that effort up with her second consecutive shutout as Brock tied the York Lions 0-0 in Toronto on Sunday.
Spagnolo made eight saves as York outshot Brock 12-1 in the second half, and 15-5 overall.
“Our team feeds off her stellar play,” Ianiero said of Spagnolo. “That’s her job, to keep us in games, so when our players see her making big save,s it builds morale and confidence moving forward. She’s one of our captains for a reason.”
Kinley Wilson, Kanisek, Samantha Bayer, Cassandra Belme and Sica each registered a shot for the Badgers.
Brock currently sits in fifth in the OUA’s West Division.
Up next, the Badgers (1-1-3) travel to Western on Sept. 21 and Windsor Sept. 22. Both games start at 1 p.m.
MEN’S LACROSSE
Nate Braniff scored four goals as the men’s lacrosse team opened the Canadian University Lacrosse Association season with a 16-4 victory over the Toronto Varsity Blues on the road Saturday.
“It was good to get that first win of the season,” head coach Tim Luey said. “The team came out and played very well in the first half. We were a little undisciplined in the second half and need to improve there.”
Brock roared out of the gate with four goals in the first quarter and led 9-0 at halftime.
Connor Brown tallied three goals
Kurtis Woodland and Grayson Houghton each potted two goals. Woodland and Mitch Gustavsen each added three assists.
The Badgers’ first game of the season at McMaster was postponed due to lightning on Sept. 13. The game will be rescheduled.
Up next, the Badgers (1-0) travel to Guelph to play the Gryphons on Sunday, Sept. 22 at 1 p.m.
WOMEN’S GOLF
Emily White won an individual bronze medal and the Brock women’s golf team captured bronze at the Bert Kea Invitational on Sunday.
White, a St. Catharines native, shot a round of 82 at Cataraqui Golf and Country Club, which was four off the leader.
The women’s team, which consists of White, Julia Moretto (88), Phoenix Gibb-Wayland (94) and Ava Iannou (107), earned a team bronze medal.
The men’s team was led by Nolan vonKalckreuth, who shot 72 for sixth place.
Jack Allan (78), Tyler Seguin (80), Jack Riordan (82) and Mike Karasinski (86) rounded out the men’s team.
On Saturday, the Brock golf teams opened the season during the Gaels & Gryphons Invitational at the Trillium Wood Golf Club in Corbyville, Ont.
The men’s team placed seventh while the women’s team finished third overall on the par-72 course.
Gibb-Wayland shot 89 to lead the way for Brock.
Moretto and White shot 90 and 94, respectively.
For the men, Riordan recorded 75 to lead the Badgers. Freddie Gulatieri and Allan each posted a score of 80, while Seguin shot 82.
Up next, the Badgers visit London to take part in the Western Invitational on Thursday, Sept. 19 at St. Thomas Golf and Country Club before hosting the Brock Invitational at Sawmill Golf Course in Fenwick on Sunday, Sept. 22.
MEN’S RUGBY
The men’s rugby team outlasted the McMaster Marauders 38-17 on the road to pick up their second consecutive win on Saturday.
Bocock and Adam Miera each scored two tries to lead the Brock offence.
“It was a strong game all around for us,” head coach Phil Sullivan said. “It was back and forth for the first 40 minutes and then we pulled away.”
Brock led 12-10 at halftime.
David Froome and Steven Medvesky each scored a try and Steve Commerford kicked four converts.
“In the final 30 minutes of the game, we were able to execute the kind of free flowing sideline to sideline offence we like to play and it allowed us to open the game,” Sullivan said. “While the game was very tightly contested in the first half, we continue to show a really strong 15-player defence that we showed in our win over Western last week.”
Up next, the Badgers (2-0) host the Laurier Golden Hawks (0-2) during Brock University’s Homecoming Saturday at 1 p.m.
WOMEN’S RUGBY
The McMaster Marauders defeated the women’s rugby team 29-5 for their first win of the season in Hamilton on Saturday.
McMaster scored the game’s first five tries before third-year hooker Hope Blackmore tallied Brock’s lone try.
“A lot of our in-game and foundation-building goals were met despite the loss,” head coach Mark Smerdon said. “Hope scored off a perfectly executed line out and maul.”
Up next, the Badgers (1-1) return to host Queen’s (3-0) for their first home game of the season during Homecoming weekend on Saturday at 4 p.m.
BASEBALL
The baseball team capped off their doubleheader against St. Bonaventure University with a trip to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
St. Bonaventure narrowly defeated the Badgers 6-4 and 6-5 in Olean, N.Y.
The team wrapped up their trip to New York with a visit to Cooperstown to visit the Hall of Fame.
“We remained competitive during both games with a team from a very good NCAA Division 1 program,” head coach Marc LePage said. “Unfortunately, we made a few mistakes, and they made us pay for them. We continue to improve and will work at eliminating some of our mistakes as we prepare for the OUA tournament in October.”
In Game 1, Ashton Feijo recorded two hits and two RBI. Feijo, Tyler Giancos, Nate Laird and Connor Humphrey each added a run. Ryan Bench and Bryn Sanford each collected an RBI.
On the mound, pitcher Brandon Underhill struck out three batters in five innings. He allowed seven hits and walked three batters.
In the second contest, Feijo continued swinging a hot bat as he racked up two hits and scored a pair of runs to help Brock keep the game close.
Bench tallied three hits and two RBI, including a run, while hitting fourth in the lineup. Laird secured two hits and contributed a run, while David Polson and Humphrey each added an RBI.
Connor Ambrogio struck out four in three innings and allowed only three hits. Ben Tiw, Tyler Stoltz and Andrew Raponi combined for four strikeouts.
Up next, the Badgers (5-4) return to George Taylor Field to host Hometown Baseball versus the Ontario Blue Jays on Sunday, Sept. 22 at 1 p.m.
Admission to the Hometown Baseball game is free and the first 100 kids through the gates will receive a free Badgers baseball hat. The event includes food, face paint and a family zone.
Brock also welcomes the Guelph Gryphons for a doubleheader on Sat., Sept. 21 at George Taylor Field beginning at noon.
SOFTBALL
The McMaster Marauders ended the Brock softball team’s win streak at seven games on Sunday.
The Badgers improved to 7-1 and currently sit tied for second with Laurier in the Ontario Intercollegiate Women’s Fastpitch Association’s West Division.
“Our bats and pitching are really coming through for us to win games,” said head coach Mark Hall. “The girls are getting those timely hits when needed. We continue to improve each and every year, staying competitive with all the talented teams in our league.”
On Saturday, the Badgers went 2-0 versus Carleton by scores of 12-1 and 9-4 at Lancaster Park.
In Hamilton versus McMaster, Brock split their Sunday games with a 9-1 win and 5-3 loss.
Senior third baseman Emilly MacDonald led the offence with a total of nine hits and five RBI.
Madi Clinton, Haley Taylor and Laine Padovan each notched five hits. Padovan added four RBI. Paige Sharp tallied two RBI and Channelle Church registered two RBI on three hits. Holly Hanchiruk and Grace Blamauer chipped in two RBI.
Brock’s pitching highlights included starters Rachel Seguin and Katie-Ann Oberle, who combined to strikeout six batters across 10 innings.
Up next, the Badgers (7-1) play the rest of their season on the road. They visit Windsor (Sept. 21) and Western (Sept. 22) next weekend.
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
The women’s lacrosse team split their matchups with Guelph and Western at Brock Alumni Field over the weekend.
With mutli-goal games from Lindsey Highfield and Tessa Czerlau, the Badgers defeated Guelph 12-9 and lost 19-7 to Western.
“We showed a lot of heart and grit,” said head coach Ally Phillips. “We’re heads and shoulders above our games last weekend and where we were at this time last year.”
Goaltender Aly Godin held down the fort with defensive hustle from Faith Dunford, Gill Webster, Jacelyn Hopkins and Meghan Boc.
Up next, the Badgers travel to Laurier to play games versus York, Queen’s and Toronto from Sept. 21-22.
