WINDSOR - The Guelph Gryphons men's soccer team started their OUA title defence in dramatic fashion. Striker Jace Kotsopoulos netted a hat trick, including a late game-winner, to earn the Gryphons a wild 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the Windsor Lancers at Alumni Field Friday night.

Kotsopoulos, a third-year forward from Burlington, is one of the premier finishers in U SPORTS. He led the OUA with 17 goals in Guelph's championship season, finishing second overall in the nation. The confident striker didn't take long to get going this year. His first goal gave the Gryphons a 1-0 lead in the 11^th minute, before adding both the tying effort in the 65^th minute, and the dramatic winner eight minutes later, erasing a 3-1 Windsor lead.
 

"It's great to start with three points," said relieved Guelph coach Keith Mason, who appreciated the inspired play of Kotsopoulos and the team. "It's always a tough place to play here and we showed great character down 3-1."

Kotsopoulos opened the scoring in the 11^th minute when he drilled home a picture-perfect low cross from Youssef Zaghloul. But the bright start was forgotten when the Lancers took full advantage of some Guelph lapses in its own end. Jamar Redhead equalized for Windsor later in the half, before Kyle Ruggabar put the hosts ahead in the 42^nd minute.

Mason was unhappy with the defensive effort and switched his team to a 3-5-2 formation in the second half. But Ruggabar would score his second of the match in the 48^th minute, putting Windsor in position to win the match.

"The defending was disappointing," said Mason. "They only had two shots in the first half and both went in. It would have been easy for us to have our heads down but we showed great determination."

The Gryphons, much like they did throughout 2016, refused to quit. The comeback began in in the 53^rd minute when veteran midfielder Joshua Seguin, a Masters student in engineering, got into the area and deposited a rebound off a save from goalkeeper Greg Chac.

Then Kotsopoulos took over. After Seguin was fouled while in alone on a breakaway, which earned Chac a yellow card, Kotsopoulos stepped up to the penalty spot and coolly sent the keeper in the wrong direction with a clinical finish. On the winner, Zaghloul sent a through ball to Zachary Rushe, who cut it into the area and found Kotsopoulos there for the hat trick.

"Jace struck the ball beautifully," Mason said after a draining opening match.

"We're happy with the points. We're off and running."

The Gryphons travel to London on Sunday, Aug. 27 to face the Western Mustangs. Match time is 3:15 pm.