Laquintana wants to “leave no doubt that Laurier is the best team” going into year two

WATERLOO, Ont. -- Coming into the 2024 season, rookie defensive lineman Matteo Laquintana was highlighted by manager of football operations and head coach Michael Faulds as one of the "exciting new players" joining defensive coordinator Ron VanMoerkerke's system. 

Making the starting roster as a freshman is a challenge in itself, but there was another challenge Laquintana had to conquer: "I played football my whole career in the U.S., so I've never played three-down football." 

However, a veteran was with him all the way. "When I first got here, Omari Hastings was the first guy who took me under his wing," he said.  

"He saw what I was doing in training camp, he knew I had potential, and he was the first guy to tell me, 'You got this, relax.' I don't think I'd be where I am without Omari; he's done so much for me. It was so nice to have someone like that in your corner; someone who I trust and who knows that I trust him." 

As the weeks progressed, Laquintana still had not hit the field as a starter. When he did, it was rather unexpected; for himself and his teammates.  

"I started my first game against Waterloo for the Battle of Waterloo. I wasn't even supposed to start that game. I thought I was going to be on the bench like I was for the past couple of games," Laquintana recounted.  

"Matt Caruso was supposed to start, and on the sideline in warmups, I heard him yell out. I looked at him and he was grabbing his calf. It was like, 'Oh, I'm definitely going to be starting now.'" 

And just like that, the Hamilton, Ont., native was thrown into the action.  

"It was exciting and something new," he said. "You're always prepared to go in. I knew my assignment, I knew I was physically ready for it." 

"It was definitely a little nerve wracking because there's a long history. Players and alumni all have a stake in you." 

The long history of the Battle of Waterloo is no exaggeration. The cross-town rivals have been dueling on the field to claim Waterloo as their own since 1962.  

It took Laquintana just shy of 20-minutes to make his mark. On second and ten, Laquintana brought down Waterloo's Nick Orr for his first career sack, forcing the two-and-out, and put the Laurier offence back on the field where they scored to take the lead on the very next drive.  

Laquintana cemented his spot on VanMoerkerke's defensive line, a system he said is very easy to understand.  

"He's the first coach I've had that's been doing this so well for so long, it was very easy to be like, 'Yeah coach V's got it, I trust him.' You don't even have to double check, like coach V says that this will work, there's a very good chance it's going to work." 

By the end of the regular season the Golden Hawks ranked second in the OUA in all defensive categories, while individually Laquintana had amassed 12.5 total tackles, two sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, and one forced fumble en route to being named to the OUA's All-Rookie Team.  

The weeks continued to progress, the wins stacked up, the playoffs approached. The team's semifinal win marked the second straight year they would play for the Yates Cup. Their opponent was none other than the Western Mustangs.  

Dating back to 2000, the 116th Yates Cup marked the 12th playoff meeting between the programs, and the Golden Hawks were out to avenge their heartbreaking loss in 2023.  

The highly anticipated rematch, this time on Laurier's turf, proved that the rookie was made to play on the big stage.  

In the fourth quarter with the Mustangs trailing 51-24 and creeping into Golden Hawks territory, Laquintana struck – hard. He joined the sack party not once, but twice, taking Western's Evan Hillock to the turf on consecutive Mustang drives; the losses totaled 11-yards. 

"Getting those sacks was like I'd brought one of the final blows; it's Laurier right now. And that was the reason I dug down at that last moment there. I had hit the same tackle that I got the sack on with the same move a couple drives earlier, and I knew it worked. I was saving it for a moment like that. And that was the drive right there. Everyone felt it, and I came through." 

"I wanted to leave no doubt that Laurier is the best team and will be for a long time," Laquintana said.  

The packed crowd at Knight-Newbrough Field erupted as the final whistle sounded and the Golden Hawks were crowned Yates Cup champions.  

Laquintana and the Laurier defense dominated the Bishop's Gaiters in the Uteck Bowl. Again, he got to the quarterback twice, resulting in 12 lost yards.  

"Two sacks in the Uteck meant that in the Vanier, everyone in that whole offensive line group is thinking, 'Alright, where's Matteo at.'" 

"I wanted to leave no doubt in Laval's mind that I'm a problem, because if they're thinking about me, it frees up room for other guys on the line, and at the end of the day, if I'm not getting a sack but the guy beside me is, that's just as good to me." 

He revisited the leadup to the national championship match, saying, "The night before Vanier, we had a meeting just explaining how important this game was to everyone; stuff that they had never told anyone. All of us left that room with a new understanding of each other and how hard we were going to play for each other, and we took it to heart." 

Once again, the Golden Hawks defense showed their strength, keeping Laval out of the endzone, and making the kicker work for every three-pointer. Eventually, the Golden Hawks fell just short, 22-17. 

"I honestly didn't think we lost until the clock hit zero. I was in denial, looking back at it. I just had so much confidence in coach Faulds and our offence that I thought if we just kept stopping them, we were going to make that one play." 

It was a historic season, but one that Laquintana ultimately learned lots from. "First of all, I learned that we're really good," he joked. "That was my first time exposed to U SPORTS football, and going how far we went, it was amazing." 

"And also, just learning how important the Vanier and Yates Cups are. We have real fans, real alumni who take it very seriously. I love that because I take football very seriously, too." 

On top of that, he had to adjust to a new mindset: Faulds's trademark phrase of going 1-0 each week.  

"It was a new mindset for me. It's always been, 'We're going to go undefeated this season, we're going to win everything.' Then you come here, and it's just coach Faulds going '1-0, 1-0, I don't care what everyone else is doing this week.'" 

"It's a great mindset to have, it keeps you focused. He's always able to keep you digging even when you think you have nothing left." 

Now going into the 2025 season, pressure, naturally, is high. "It's not just outside pressure; it's very much inside pressure as well," Laquintana said.  

"We're so good at finding that middle ground where the pressure is perfect. It's something that coach Faulds has been able to teach the leaders in the locker room, and it's something that's just a part of the Laurier culture." 

The departure of some key pieces is not a point of worry for Laquintana or the Golden Hawks as their week one matchup against the Guelph Gryphons approaches on August 23.  

"We are the same group with the same goals. The culture is still here, coach Faulds has made that culture, and it's not going away for a long time."