Hamilton, ON - Last week, in the first match up between these two teams this season, a combination of a stingy Gryphon defense and an offense that is starting to find its way dominated the McMaster Marauders by a score of 11-1. This week however, it was clear that McMaster had made some adjustments in preparation for their second meeting with the Gryphons and a much more confident Marauder team took the field gave the Gryphons a battle that they were not expecting.
The opening face-off was indicative of how this game would transpire. For 20 seconds, the teams battled for the loose ball before a speedy Blaze McCullough scooped it up for the Gryphons. On their first possession, veteran midfielder Brett Ulbikas easily beat his defender and put the ball just inside the right post to put Guelph on the board. Less than 2 minutes later another veteran middie, Brendan Vogan, blew past his defender and ripped a shot to the bottom left corner, giving the Gryphons a 2-0 lead. It looked like Guelph would once again dominate McMaster.
Another dominate face-off win by Gryphon draw-man Josh Manangan gave Guelph its third possession of the game, but Guelph failed to capitalize and open the game up. McMaster found the mark at 12:59 after a Gryphon penalty gave them a man advantage.
The Gryphon offense continued to miss good scoring opportunities until McCullough scored his second of the season and put Guelph back up by 2. A fast break off the ensuing face off left Gryphon attackman Mike Cavanagh wide open on the crease, but a spectacular save by McMaster's goalie stole yet another opportunity for Guelph. McMaster would ride the momentum of the save back into Guelph's end where the Gryphons would take another penalty. McMaster once again capitalized on the man advantage bringing the score to 3-2 to end the quarter.
After a rare face-off loss to start the second quarter, Guelph found itself on defense. Less than a minute into the frame, McMaster took advantage of a Gryphon defensive miscue, scoring their first 6 on 6 goal this season against the Gryphons. McMaster would score again 6 on 6 only a minute later to take a 4-3 lead. While the Gryphons regained the lead with goals from McCullough and Todd Greer they would relinquish it once again, allowing McMaster 3 unanswered goals; the third of which, came with only seconds remaining in the half.
Down 7-5 at the half with a sputtering offense and a defense that had not given up 7 goals in one half yet this season, the Gryphons found themselves in unfamiliar territory. Early in the third Brendan Vogan picked up his second of the game, reducing MAC's lead to 1. Despite Vogan's early goal, McMaster was able to maintain the momentum from the first half and by the 11:00 mark of the third they had scored two more unanswered goals to open up a 9-6 lead.
Gryphon Head Coach Sam Kosakowski was unequivocal about the team's performance early on. "We didn't put them away in the first quarter when we should have, and we struggled with loose balls and turnovers. MAC had all of the momentum but because we were patient and we started to clean things up, we gave ourselves a chance".
Momentum is crucial in field lacrosse and you could feel it slowly tipping back into Guelph's favour as the quarter wore on. Down by three, the Gryphons started dominating loose balls once again. The offense, rather than rushing to even up the score, remained patient and calculating, probing McMaster's defense and then took advantage when the match ups favoured Guelph.
With 8:48 remaining in the third, Mike Cavanagh found the back of the net to bring the Gryphons to within two. Guelph won the next face off and when the offense was set, Vogan dodged again from the top and ripped his third goal past the McMaster net minder. Now down by one going into the final quarter the momentum began to shift toward Guelph.
Brett Ulbikas, who had been quiet for most of the game, made a hard cut from the top and took a great feed from behind the net from attackman Liam Corbett. Ulbikas fired it just under the crossbar, evening the game at 9.
When it looked like McMaster might get themselves back into the game, the Gryphon defense once again tightened up. Goaltender Mike Lalani, who despite having what team personnel would only comment on as a lower body injury, make some key stops down the stretch to keep McMaster off the score sheet. Guelph was in complete control of the game at this point. After scoring three unanswered goals to tie it up, Danny McIsaac, Brendan Vogan and Liam Corbett added 3 more on their way to a 12-9 come-from-behind win.
Vogan's 4 goal performance led all scorers and was the biggest night of Vogan's 4 year career as a Gryphon. For his performance, he was an honorable mention as the Gryphon player of the game. The player of the game went to Manangan, who went 17/21 on face offs, giving the Gryphons the opportunity to stay in the game and eventually register a great comeback win.
Brett Ulbikas had 4 points with 2 goals and 2 assists. Corbet and McIsanac each had a goal and 2 assists, while Blaze McCullough contributed to goals. Todd Greer and Mike Cavanagh had a goal apiece.
The Gryphons will next travel to Sudbury to face Laurentian on Saturday, Oct. 3. The Voyagers are fresh off a stunning 2 goal upset win over Brock and will prove to be a tough opponent for Guelph. On Sunday, Oct. 4 they make their way to North Bay to meet Nipissing.
