The Brock Badgers women’s soccer team has had the results of four games of the ongoing 2017 season forfeited due to an eligibility issue.

Ontario University Athletics announced the decision by U Sports (formerly Canadian Interuniversity Sport) on Thursday, Oct. 5. The ruling is the result of Brock using an ineligible player in four of the first five regular season women’s soccer games.

Brock Sports Director Neil Lumsden said the use of the ineligible player was the result of an oversight, and called the situation a learning experience on a number of fronts.

“This is a very unfortunate situation but the coaches and players will not let this setback derail their goal of finishing the season on a positive note and making the playoffs,” Lumsden said.

The forfeit impacts a 2-2 tie against Wilfrid Laurier on Aug. 25, a 1-1 tie against Waterloo on Aug. 27, a 1-0 win over Guelph on Sept. 8 and a 1-0 loss against Western on Sept. 10. All will now be recorded as 1-0 losses.

“The eligibility violation was reviewed and verified, and as a result, games in which the Brock University athlete participated in are forfeited,” the OUA said in announcing the U Sports decision.

The ineligible player has now been removed from the roster and head coach Kevin Trethowan said the team will work harder than ever to overcome the setback.

“This is a huge setback for us but we can’t let off-the-field factors impact our performances on the field,” he said. “Playoffs are still within reach and we will still be pushing to make them. We are a resilient bunch and this will only make us stronger.”

The Badgers have five games remaining in the regular season including home games against Guelph and York this weekend and away games against McMaster, Waterloo and Laurier Oct. 15, 21 and 22, respectively.

With the forfeits, Brock’s record stands at three wins, seven losses and one tie.