OTTAWA, Ont. – Trying to rebound from a heartbreaking extra-time semi-final loss at the U SPORTS Championship less than 24 hours ago, the Guelph Gryphons returned to the pitch in Ottawa Sunday afternoon to take on the Cape Breton Capers with a national bronze medal on the line.
In what was a rematch of the 2016 national bronze medal game, one in which the Gryphons defeated Cape Breton 3-0 at Alumni Stadium, the result unfortunately did not go the Gryphon's way this time around as the Capers secured 2021 bronze with a 2-0
victory.
With the disappointment of their semi-final losses still fresh on their minds, both teams did their best to focus everything they had left in the tank on trying to claim the final spot on the U SPORTS podium.
As the match got underway, it was the Gryphons who found themselves with the first glorious opportunity. Only six minutes into the contest, 5
th-year Gryphon, and a member of that 2016 bronze medal winning team, Alex Zis came streaking down the left side before playing a wonderful cross into the Caper's box. On the receiving end,
Owen McKee headed the ball on goal, only to be denied by an outstanding save from Cape Breton keeper, Jordan Watkins.
Using the big save from their goalkeeper as a momentum springboard, the Capers began to push the pace towards the Gryphon's end, and in the 21
st minute, Cape Breton would be rewarded. After the Capers sent the ball in towards the Gryphon's box from just inside the midfield stripe, the ball bounced off a Gryphon defender and just beyond the reach of
Svyatoslav Artemenko to put Cape Breton up 1-0.
The Capers would then go on to carry that one goal advantage into the half time break.
Looking to regroup ahead of the second half, Gryphon's head coach
Keith Mason adjusted a few tactics and prepared some substitutions.
Unfortunately for Guelph, much of the second half seemed to go the way of Cape Breton though. Controlling the possession meter, while playing fundamental defence, the Capers did not allow the Gryphons many chances to get out on the attack.
Instead, it was the Capers who were able to go on the offensive. Lining up a corner kick in the 74
th minute, the Capers were able to double their lead after back to back headers directed the ball deep into the Guelph box, where it was then headed home by Kairo Coore putting Cape Breton up 2-0.
Over the final 15 minutes and change, the Gryphons brought as many bodies forward as they could, but despite their best efforts, they were unable to get anything past Watkins.
It was a difficult pill to swallow for the Gryphs when the referee whistled the end of the match, as that sound brought to an end their 2021 season. However, it was an incredible 2021 campaign for Coach Mason and his squad. They will return to Guelph with a fourth place finish at nationals to go along with an undefeated record through OUA play, as well as their 2021 OUA championship, the third in program history.
