Box Score GUELPH – The elite teams in the OUA are looking to finish the men's soccer season strong. For the No. 6-ranked Guelph Gryphons, it was a perfect time to test themselves against another conference powerhouse. But the defending OUA champions just couldn't get the result. The McMaster Marauders scored two first-half goals minutes apart and then held on to steal a 2-1 win over Guelph at the Gryphon Soccer Complex Wednesday night.

Guelph entered the night second in the OUA West, with the Marauders nipping at its heels just three points behind in the third spot. It was McMaster who had handed the Gryphons their first loss of the season in a 4-2 match in Hamilton one month ago.

The defeat was frustrating for a team that has often had to show the resolve to come back in games this season. A few sloppy moments were costly despite Guelph controlling most of the match.

"For 35 minutes we dominated this game and Mac looked totally under pressure and shell-shocked the way we came at them," said coach Keith Mason. "And with two or three bad decisions in five minutes, we gave up two silly goals and suddenly, Mac had something to defend.

"We've had the offensive power to get back in games after those defensive errors. But today, it was one time too many and we just couldn't get back."

Midfielder Youssef Zaghloul scored the lone goal for Guelph (9-3-1), which had its three-game win streak snapped.
 

Zaghloul, who has often been the provider for his teammates' goals this season, kept up his tremendous stretch of play with a beautiful finish in the 11^th minute to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. The creative midfielder gathered a loose ball inside the area and smashed into the top right of the McMaster net for his second goal in as many games and fourth this year.

The visitors hadn't been able to generate much as Guelph was in control for much of the first half. But the Marauders scored twice in a span of four minutes to take the advantage back from the Gryphons. Guelph gave the ball away, allowing Mac to get in on a breakaway. On the subsequent corner, defender Matt Monteiro would equalize when he deposited a header in the 32^nd minute. And in the 36^th, the visitors went up when third-year striker Yordan Stoyanov won a loose ball and tucked it low left in behind Guelph goalkeeper Simon Norgrove. Norgrove was forced to make a key save right before half that kept the hosts within one.

The Gryphons continuously went forward in the second half and created a few opportunities but they were met with resistance as McMaster kept the defence packed and difficult to penetrate.

"We had all the play, lots of chances and great balls going in," said Mason. "It is frustrating because we didn't deserve to lose the match but that's the nature of the game, to score more goals than the opposition. And unfortunately, we didn't today."
 
The Gryphons look to rebound when they face the Waterloo Warriors on the road Wednesday, Oct. 18. Match time is 8:15 pm.