Box Score
Toronto, ON - Danielle Canhoto scored the Gryphons lone goal in a tough 4-1 loss against the undefeated York Lions in Toronto on a cold, wet Sunday afternoon at York University. With the loss the Gryphons fall to 4-2-0 while the Lions improve to 4-0-1.
 
As fans were finding their seats and settling in for the highly anticipated, top-half-of-the-table matchup, everyone in York Stadium, spectators and athletes alike, were blindsided when Lions' defender, Shannon Wood, slipped the ball into the Gryphons net. After the surprising goal, Stephanie Moore and the rest of the Guelph defence were solid in the back and it looked as if York would be held to only the single tally. In stoppage time before the half, senior midfielder, Marilyn Grammenopoulos, sent the ball into the top right corner with her left boot from just outside the box for the Lion's second goal of the half. York would take the 2-0 lead into the dressing room.
 
As the teams walked onto the pitch for the second half, Guelph took a more attacking position. Captain, Courtney Whiteside, was moved into a central attacking role instead of her usual place on the wing. The Gryphons were playing with more of a purpose after half than was noticed earlier. Unfortunately nothing tangible formed in the wake of the Gryphons intensity. Less than 10 minutes into the second half, an impressively risky, but successful sliding tackle by Guelph left back, Allison Clouse, inside the area on freshman striker and Lions leading scorer, Kiyani Johnson, led to a York corner. Sarah Wong, her second assist of the day, sent a curving corner into the six-yard box where it found the head of Sydney Hoareau, her second assist of the day. The headed ball barely crossed the line, but not before it hit a pair of defenders, the cross bar and the goalie, as three Gryphons were pushed into the net as well. York now had a 3-0 lead and didn't look like stopping.
 
In the 71st minute, Guelph conceded a free kick in a dangerous spot outside the box. Gryphons' goalkeeper, Elizabeth Brenneman made a tremendous dive to the left, punching away a ball destined for the back of the net. As play continued, Johnson fired another shot towards the Gryphons netminder, requiring an even more spectacular diving save. The clock approaching 90 minutes, substitute, Danielle Canhoto, got the ball on her foot 25 yards out. With just enough space around her, she gave it a little touch to get it in her wheelhouse, pulled back and fired a canon of a shot past the Lions goalie, into the left side of the net. As the game expired, York leading 3-1, Johnson scored her fourth of the season. At the final whistle, the Gryphons had lost 4-1 to a worthy opponent. The Gryphons look to get back to their winning ways when they host third place and undefeated (4-0-1) Laurier Golden Hawks on September 22. Match scheduled start is 2:45pm and can be seen live online at OUA.tv.