Western extends win streak to four games with shutout against Laurier

WATERLOO, Ont. — If Christian Douglas isn't the top striker in the OUA, it's becoming abundantly clear that nobody has told him.
 
The third-year forward extended his scoring streak to four games on Wednesday afternoon, netting the only goal of the game in the 24th minute to push the Mustangs past the Laurier Golden Hawks 1-0 at Waterloo University Stadium.
 
The goal gives Douglas 12 strikes on the season and moves him into a tie for the OUA's scoring lead with York's Jarek Whiteman. During the Oakville, Ontario native's current streak, he has totaled six tallies in just four games, including a pair of goals against both Waterloo and Brock.
 
But Douglas' current hot streak is about much more than just individual achievement. It appears that, so Douglas goes, so the Mustangs go, as his streak lines up perfectly with Western's current four-game win streak. In fact, when the talented striker has scored this season, the Mustangs are a perfect 7-0; in games he hasn't scored, Western has won just once.
 
However, while Douglas' play is certainly a large factor in the Mustangs current success, it isn't the only factor. Last week, head coach Rock Basacco told reporters that the key to Mustangs recent success has been a mix of good possession and aggressive attacking, something that requires the entire team buying in to a system.
 
That system was in full effect again on Wednesday, as the Mustangs maintained possession for large chunks of time and were able to limit the Golden Hawks to just three shots on their goaltender Ben Cowman. Whenever Laurier did get a shot off, Cowman was there to fend them off, as the third-year backstop earned his sixth shutout of the season and third in as many games.
 
Meanwhile, on the other side of the pitch, Western peppered Golden Hawks' goaltender Julien John with six shots over 90 minutes. Western midfielder Parker Seymour was responsible for two of those shots, while Douglas, Stevie-Ray Reid,Connor McFall, and Matt Elias all added a shot of their own.
 
With the win, the third-place Mustangs (8-4-1) move to within one point of second-place McMaster (8-2-2) in the OUA West standings, although the Marauders currently hold a game in hand on Western. Nonetheless, the Mustangs will have a chance to overtake McMaster when they welcome them to Mustangs Field on Saturday, October 11, for Western's second last home game of the OUA regular season.