KINGSTON, Ont. (November 3, 2017) - The 2017 Baggataway Cup stays with the Western Mustangs as they successfully defended their title with a thrilling 16-14 double overtime win over Brock at Richardson Stadium on a rainy and windy Sunday afternoon.

BAGGATAWAY CUP CHAMPIONSHIP

The defending champion Mustangs got off to a quick start as they were looking to defend their title against the undefeated Brock Badgers. Western jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first quarter and finished off the frame with a 6-3 lead thanks to a pair of markers from Reid Reinholdt.

The offensive surge slowed in the second quarter as there were just two goals scored, both coming from Brock.

Heading into halftime the Badgers trailed by just one 6-5.

Brock managed to pull even in the third but the Mustangs continued to pull ahead. Reinholdt scored and added an assist late to put the Mustangs up 11-8 after three.

The fourth quarter belonged to the resilient Badgers. Brock scored two quick goals to get within one before the Mustangs re-gained their two goal advantage with 5:40 remaining. 

After scoring to get back within one at 1:43 it was the Badgers Josh Harris with the equalizer at 12-12 with just 31 seconds remaining sending the Championship into overtime.

Jackson Hulbert put Western ahead in the first overtime but the Badgers responded with goals from Alex Pace and Tyrus Rehanek to take their first lead of the game with 1:51 left in the opening overtime.

After Cole Davis tied things back up at 14-14, Hulbert struck to give Western the lead with three seconds left in the first overtime. The Mustangs added the lone goal in the second overtime and took the Baggataway Cup with a 16-14 win.

SEMIFINAL SATURDAY

In semifinal Saturday at Richardson Stadium, the first game saw the Brock Badgers taking on the Guelph Gryphons with a spot in the Baggatway Cup on the line.

The two teams traded goals throughout a tightly contested game, with Guelph being led by Alec Simons scoring two goals and adding an assist.

Guelph went into halftime with a 6-5 lead.

Out of the gate in the third the Gryphons looked to pull away. Guelph pulled ahead 9-7 late in the third quarter thanks to a Michael Cavanagh goal. 

The undefeated Badgers pulled their game together facing the deficit as the offence came to life. Four of the next five goals were scored by the Badgers putting them in front 11-10 in the fourth.

With just 1:24 left Guelph scored a goal to tie things up at 11-11 thanks to a goal from Mike Berger. Just as the Gryphons looked like they had a chance it was Brock that pulled away for good. Only 1- seconds after the Berger goal Brock scored to re-gain the lead as Connor Hamm found the back of the net. Another late goal from Brock gave them a 13-11 victory.

In the second semifinal the Western Mustangs were looking to upset the top seed in the East the McGill Redmen.

McGill was the first to strike, taking a 1-0 lead on a goal from Connor Plante, but it was the Mustangs offence that took control from there.

Western scored four straight to close out the first quarter with a 4-1 lead. Reid Reinholdt and Cody Ward each had a pair of goals early.

The Redmen were able to cut into the Western lead getting to within one at 5-4 but once again the Mustangs went on a run with five straight goals to take a commanding 10-4 halftime lead.

After getting the score to just 11-8 after three, McGill was able to get to within one mid-way through the fourth. Kieran McKay scored at 9:07 in the fourth for McGill to make the Mustang lead just 12-11.

Reinholdt proceeded to put Western on his back, scoring his third of the match to make it a two-goal lead. Western solidified the win with a late insurance marker to defeat McGill 14-11.

QUARTER-FINAL FRIDAY

In the opening quarter-final, the game was all Guelph early as they jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead on the second-seeded Trent.

The Excalibur were able to cut into the lead thanks to a pair of goals from Cole McWilliams, but the Gryphons added two more, including one from Alec Simons, to take a 5-3 lead.

The two teams kept things close the rest of the way thanks to strong offensive outings from Simons and Garrett Eddy from Trent.

With the game tied late in the match, Trent got a goal from Nick Finlay to give the Excalibur the lead with under a minute remaining. Unphased, Guelph came right back as Simons notched his third of the contest.

The game went to double-overtime before Simons played hero with his fourth of the game.

In the second quarter-final, the host Queen's Gaels took on rival Western on home turf. Western was able to get out to a quick 2-0 lead, but Queen's got on the board with a goal from Alex Bulla to cut the deficit to just one. 

Western continued to control the offensive play as they scored the next six goals of the game in the opening half to go up 8-1. Queen's added their second of the game to make it 8-2 Mustangs at the half.

Western was quick out of the gate in the third, scoring within the first minute to go out in front 9-2.

Cody Ward finished with three goals and one assist as the Mustangs closed out the second half with a 13-6 victory over Queen's.

Western will meet McGill while Guelph faces off against Brock in semifinal Saturday.