Men’s soccer improve to 4-0-2 while women drop to 2-4-0 on season
Both the University of Guelph women’s and men’s soccer teams took to the field at the Gryphon Soccer Complex on a chilly Sunday afternoon against the Western Mustangs. The women were left on the losing end of a hard fought 2-0 game, while the men victorious by a score of 2-1.
Facing off against the 6-1-0 Mustangs, the Gryphons women’s team played first. The visiting team got off to a fast start by scoring the opening goal in the 5th minute off a rebound hammered home by forward Amanda Boyle, which followed after a nice initial save by Gryphon goaltender Elizabeth Brenneman. Brenneman had a strong game for the Gryphons, ending with 12 saves in total. (Story continues after slideshow. Photos by Ryan Priddle.)
The first goal is the all important one, as they so often say, proving to be true in this match-up as the Gryphons were never able to fully recover from Boyle’s opener despite their best attempts to push the tempo into the Mustangs end. The loss had some highlights for the Gryphons, who played a very tight defensive game with most of the game held to the middle of the field. Guelph defenders Sarah Magalhaes and Stephanie Moore were particularly adept at keeping the Western forwards out of the home zone.
The loss drops the Gryphons to 2-4-0 on the season.
The men’s team followed, defeating the Mustangs by a score of 2-1 in a game that went down to the wire. Gryphons center forward Tim Flynn scored a breath taking goal in the 90th minute to give the home team the victory and improve their record on the season to 4-0-2.
It was a chess match of a game early for both teams, as crisp passing and strong defensive play kept the ball centered in the middle of the field for most of the first half. The Mustangs were able to squeeze a goal past Guelph goaltender Benjamin Caranci in the 16th minute, a lead that lasted until the second half.
Both teams came out of the gate flying in the second half, particularly the Gryphons as they favoured a more aggressive style of play, getting solid contributions from every player on the field. Following a great save by Gryphon goaltender Caranci in the 66th minute, Guelph’s aggression finally paid off as Gryphon rookie forward Estevan Carles scored his first Ontario University Athletics (OUA) career goal in the 75th minute, jumping over Western’s diving goalie to tie up the score with a goal he’ll likely never forget.
While the temperature in the air may have been cold, it was slowly rising to a boiling point on the field as a scuffle ensued in the 83rd minute, which saw a red card produced for the Mustangs and put the home team Gryphons at a player advantage.
After chances for both squads as the hour drew late, Flynn was able to convert with a header off a corner kick in the 90th minute to cap off an exciting home win for the Gryphons. Along with Flynn, Guelph defender Justin Springer had a particularly strong game, using his size and speed to block many shots in front of the net.