LONDON, Ont. – Western took little time getting back on the winning track after a tough loss to Guelph in week two, putting together a 24-point second half on Saturday afternoon to hand the York Lions a 38-22 defeat at Alumni Field. 
 
"The girls changed the game around themselves," said head coach Katie Baer about the Mustangs' late push. "They realized that they had gotten stuck and just decided to play Western ball. They really played their hearts out. For them, that's the moment that really switched it around.
 
"At half time we talked about it, and really just decided enough was enough," added veteran Andrea Bowra. "We went back out there firing."
 
With the win, the Mustangs record improves to 2-1 while York picks up their first loss of the season after two early wins.  
 
Bowra topped both sides of the scoresheet with 18 points. In addition to recording a try, she made all five attempted converts and a penalty goal. Behind Bowra on the purple and white side was Paige Farris, who recorded two tries. Also putting up points for Western was Veronica Harrigan, and Rebecca Matheson, who each recorded one try.
 
York, capitalizing on their size advantage and force in the scum, took control of the game immediately. Pushing deep into purple and white territory, they scored the first try of the game at the five-minute mark after planting the ball near the sideline.
 
Western retaliated just two minutes later to take the lead. Farries broke out of the sea of red and white to run the ball from half field and land a try directly in the centre of the Lion's in-goal area. Bowra followed up with a convert to give the Mustangs a two-point lead. 
 
The next 32 minutes were a back-and-forth of strong runs and quick breakaways. Both York and Western displayed their offensive prowess but seemed to struggle in the back end. At the end of the first 40, York had taken a small lead over the Mustangs at 17-14.
 
Returning to active play, the Mustangs didn't waste time in getting back on top. Veronica Harrigan recorded a try five minutes after being back on the field allowing Bowra to follow up with a clean convert. The duo gave the purple and white momentum a boost, sending the Mustangs into a scoring frenzy.
 
An additional 17 points went up for Western before York was able to get back on the board with a try and convert with just over ten minutes left.
 
The last ten minutes saw attempts from both teams to add a few more tallies to the score sheet but no one was able to break through the opposing team's defense.
 
"We're just getting our momentum going," said Bowra. "We plan on being back at nationals this year so we just need to keep moving."
 
The Mustangs are back in action on October 2, when they head to Waterloo to take on the Laurier Golden Hawks. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.