With the post-season quickly approaching, the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks menโs soccer team had a rocky finish to their regular season, losing 2-0 to the Guelph Gryphons on Saturday and 2-0 to the York Lions Sunday in what were pivotal games to secure home field advantage for the playoffs.
Although the Hawks managed to hold their own in the first half against Guelph, they just couldnโt keep the Gryphon offence at bay, as they managed to pull ahead with a goal in the 52nd minute while Laurier struggled to find the net.
A penalty kick in the 90th minute off a handball would seal the game on a bitter note.
Coach Mario Halapir knew exactly what his intentions were going into the game.
โTo get three points,โ he said bluntly. โThis game was a pivotal point for the playoff situation and we had an opportunity this weekend to get home field advantage.
โToday we needed three points and thatโs the only thing we could ask the players to get.โ
Despite solidifying a position in the playoffs, injuries have plagued the team this season.
โInjuries are for every team in the league, we canโt use that as an excuse,โ said Halapir. โWe were obviously hampered today missing our key ingredients in the midfield with two central players and it was awfully missed today.โ
To add insult to the Hawksโ already plentiful injuries, starting goalkeeper Brett Harrington left the game following the first goal but Halapir is confident this will not be a major problem.
โEvan [Phillips] has done a tremendous jobโ he said of the backup โkeeper. โHeโs got courage, a great attitude and you just hope he can improve on these as the years go on and thatโs our main aim with him.โ
Halapir knows there are some definite improvements that need to be made if they hope to go far in the post-season.
โThe thing this team lacks is character,โ he said. โUnfortunately weโve been lacking for the last couple of years and I shouldnโt say that about everybody because thereโs a few but thereโs just not enough and those players that have it need to develop leadership qualities.โ
Character isnโt the only thing they need.
โOn field leadership is something we donโt have from any players and itโs difficult,โ he said. โWe have some senior players who arenโt capable of it and we have some first year players who donโt have the mental capacity for it.
โItโs very difficult when you put a team like that on the field… when a game is on the line. There just isnโt that will to win and without that you shouldnโt be competing.โ
But one loss doesnโt mean the end.
โI personally never give up,โ said Halapir. โWeโre going to come back to try and coach to win again.โ
The Hawks finished their season with a 5-6-5 record and sit sixth in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) West division. The Lions and McMaster Marauders finished first and second respectively.
Laurier will face the third-seeded Western Mustangs in London at 8 p.m. on Wednesday in the first round of the OUA playoffs. Laurier tied and lost to Western during the regular season.
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