GUELPH, Ont. - On Sunday (Sept. 10) afternoon the Guelph Gryphons women's soccer team hosted the U SPORTS No. 8-ranked Western Mustangs in their 2023 home opener, with the two teams playing to a 2-2 draw. The match also served as the 2023 Gryphon soccer Alumni Day, celebrating past student-athletes who wore the Gryphon uniform. 

The Gryphons came into Sunday's match coming off of a regular season-opening 1-0 loss to the Mustangs on Labour Day Monday, a game that saw the U of G women unable to generate much of offence. Their season opener was a different story, with the Gryphons finding the back of the net first just 10 minutes into the action. The goal came off a perfectly placed corner kick from fourth-year midfielder Anna Bernardi which found the head of Kathleen Kimens and beat the Western goalkeeper. The Gryphons led for just three minutes, with the Mustangs tying the game in the thirteenth minute. Just over ten minutes later the Mustangs would claim their first lead of the day thanks to a goal from Gabby Kohut. 

Coming back out for the second half the Mustangs were on the offensive, earning a corner kick and a shot on goal before the Gryphons responded. The Gryphons received a scoring opportunity of their own with a corner kick but failed to convert. Keeping the pressure on Western they were able to find the equalizer when Peterborough, Ontario native Violet Hipkin set s shot into the lower right corner of the net and tying the game at two apiece. Despite trading scoring chances over the remaining 25 minutes, the final whistle would sound and the two team would leave the field with a final score of 2-2. 

The Gryphons (0-1-1) will return to action on Friday, September 15 when they make the short trip to Waterloo to take on the Warriors under the lights. The team will then return to the Gryphon Soccer Complex on Sunday (Sept. 17) and host the Warriors at 1pm in the second match of their home-and-home series.