Flashes of brilliance showcased despite back-to-back losses
The Gryphons women’s lacrosse team had a tough challenge ahead of them on Sept. 13, taking on the Brock Badgers and the Laurier Golden Hawks in back-to-back games to open the 2014 season.
The first challenge came with the Brock Badgers on a cold and frosty morning at Varsity Field. Both teams came out strong and battled hard, dealing with less than stellar weather conditions but showcasing an action packed game and a ton of scoring from both sides.
While the Gryphons valiantly fought and kept possession for a good portion of the match, the Badgers defeated the Gryphons 12-6.
With very little time to regroup and reflect upon the match, the Gryphons had to prepare for their game with the Laurier Golden Hawks shortly afterwards. The weather cleared up and conditions for play became much more tolerable.
The home team came out with great energy, flexing their offensive muscles with great passing and synergy between midfield and attacking players. Laura Gutauskas showed great hustle, drawing a penalty and scoring the penalty shot to give the Gryphons a 2-1 lead early on.
Keeping control and passing with precision, the Gryphons offence looked phenomenal; calmly waiting for cuts and screens while reading the Laurier defence. The Gryphons took a quick 3-1 lead with a beautiful goal by Laurel McGillis, putting it past the Laurier keeper emphatically in the top right corner. Katelyn Cartwright did an outstanding job running the ball and keeping it in play along the flanks.
As the weather on Varsity Field warmed up, so did the Laurier offence, surging for a 5-4 lead at halftime. Coming out of the half, the Gryphons played with a purpose. Holding most of the possession and showing strong defensive play from Katelynn Brzezinski, the Gryphons showed immense poise and determination. Brezezinski, an Ontarion University Athletics (OUA) All-Star from last season, alongside teammates Hannah Golightly and Katelyn Cartwright, demonstrated exactly why the Gryphons are a team to be feared this season.
However, as the second half progressed the Laurier Golden Hawks sliced through the Gryphon defence and took control of the game. Despite brilliant saves from Gryphon Andrea Dykun, the Laurier offence was overwhelming and scored multiple goals in succession as the second half came to an end. The final score had Laurier taking the game 9-6 in a tight and hard-fought match.
Despite the two losses, the Gryphons looked exceptionally precise and composed in their play, scoring beautiful, well-calculated goals while slashing through the opposing defence. There was no shortage of excitement and high-level play.
Looking to bounce back, the poised Gryphons team will head to Peterborough on Sept. 27 to take on Queens University and Wilfred Laurier University in another back-to-back set of games.