– Gryphons down Toronto to tie for first
- Gryphons host OUA Championships next week -
TORONTO - Saturday, the Gryphons closed out the regular season on a high note with two victories at Downsview Park in Toronto over the Toronto Varsity Blues (2-1) and McGill Martlets (6-1).
In game one, the red, black and gold knocked off the defending CIS champion Blues 2-1. The Blues hit the scoreboard first at 13:00 but the Gryphs retaliated with the equalizer at the 26:00 mark as Meghan McLean (Strathroy, ON) stole the ball off a Toronto defender to set up Courtney Lacey (Guelph, ON) for her first marker of the season. With less than a minute to the halftime whistle, Brittany Seidler (Oliver, BC) found the back of the net which turned out to be the game winner to put the Gryphs up 2-1. This would be the final outcome. Kaye McLagan (Mitchell, ON) claimed the win.
A few hours later, Seidler spearheaded the Gryphons to a 6-1 win over McGill with 5 goals and an assist to claim the OUA and CIS scoring title with a grand tally of 26 on the season, 12 ahead of the next highest scorer. Erin Houle also scored. McLagan and Meghan Hurst (Coquitlam, BC) combined for the win. This marked McLagan's 9th victory of the season.
With the two wins, Guelph compiled a very impressive 11-1-0 record and 33 of a possible 36 points to tie for top spot in the OUA. Unfortunately, the Gryphs take second place based on goal difference. However, the Gryphons once again led the league in the goals for column with 53.
Rookies Erin Houle (Burlington, ON) and Candice Hawksworth (Oakville) tied for fourth spot in the OUA scoring charts with seven goals apiece. Amy Wise (Delta, BC) finished 10th with five.
By virtue of their second place finish, the Gryphons earned themselves a bye in the first round of the OUA playoffs. On Saturday (Oct. 29), they will host the winner of the Waterloo (#3)-St. Mary's (#6) contest in a semi-final at 2:00 pm. The winner advances to the championship game at 12:00 pm Sunday (Oct. 30) also at Varsity Field in Guelph.
