GUELPH, Ont. – With only four games left in their regular season schedule, the No. 5-nationally ranked Guelph Gryphons came into their Friday night match against the Brock Badgers having yet to lose. That trend continued on Friday as the Gryphons defeated the Badgers 1-0 at the Gryphon Soccer Complex securing their fifth win in seven matches while improving their record at home to 4-0-0.
Although the only goal of the match wasn't a thing of beauty, but instead was an own-goal off the Badger's keeper, the only thing the Gryphons are worried about late in the season is securing as many points as possible no matter how they come.
The match began with the home team creating all kinds of pressure and opportunities. Throughout the first twenty minutes, the Gryphons moved the ball deep into Brock's end and on multiple occasions got the ball into the Badger's box but were unable to find the finishing touch. Despite their chances falling just short in the first-half, the Gryphons were gifted some good fortune right before the break. Working with a corner-kick in stoppage time, Colin Gander sent his corner kick in towards the Brock goal only to have the Brock goalkeeper's clearance attempt wind up in his own net as Guelph went up 1-0 just before the ref blew the whistle for half-time
"I think the way we started the game in the first 25 minutes, I think gave us a goal in the bank," said Gryphon's Head Coach Keith Mason. "We were outstanding at the start creating chance after chance, so I felt we certainly deserved the goal, but when it finally came, there was a bit of luck."
All of a sudden nursing a one goal advantage as the second-half got underway, the Gryphons continued to push through the first 25 minutes or so of the second-half. However, despite trailing the Badgers would not go away quietly. Determined to leave Guelph with at least one point, the Badgers began to turn the tide in the late stages. Bringing more guys forward with increased urgency, the visitors wound up getting the ball into the Guelph box on a few different occasions. Unfortunately for the Badgers though, even with their chances, they only were able to force Gryphon's keeper Svyatoslav Artemenko into one stop, with their other opportunities missing the target.
After the Gryphons were able to settle the late push from the Badgers, Guelph managed to play keep away to kill off the final minutes of the contest and secure a big three points.
"I thought we always looked in control even if they had the ball," Mason said. "We put a solid wall up tonight and defended really well. Now when I say defended really well, I mean every last man from the forwards to the goalie were fighting for every inch and that is how you get shutouts."
Leading the West Division by three points with three matches to go, the Gryphons will look to move even closer to securing that top spot when they return to action on Sunday against these same Brock Badgers. This time around the contest will be played in St. Catharines.
