OTTAWA, Ont. – On Saturday afternoon (Oct. 26) at Ottawa's Marc Anthony Field, the Gryphons women's soccer team were edged out in penalties by the No. 2-ranked Ottawa Gee-Gees in an OUA semifinal matchup to bring the Gryphons 2024 season to an end.

The Gryphons got out to a quick start as in the 7th minute, Olivia Brown was hauled down in the box by an Ottawa defender to earn a penalty. Fourth-year psychology major, Christina Gomes, would step up to the spot and tuck home the penalty to the lower left of the goal, sending Cassidy Joslin the other way, to put the Gryphons ahead early.

Early in the 2nd half, the Gryphons would see their goalkeeper, Sabrina Spano, get injured making a save after colliding with a Gee-Gees player. Spano was forced to leave the match and was replaced by first-year goalkeeper, Jo Mazier. The Gee-Gees would eventually find the equalizer in the 58th minute when they quickly transitioned the ball up the field, as the pass from Jenna Matsukubo found Allana Oriente who scored into the open net. From there, Ottawa would continue to apply pressure on the Guelph net, but the Gryphon defence would hold, with Mazier making 5 saves in the half to send the match to extra time tited at 1-1.

The intensity and physicality of the match would ramp up in extra time as both teams would have several great chances to score the go-ahead goal but neither side were able to find the back of the net in the 30 minutes of extra time, meaning spot kicks would be required to see who would be going through to the OUA Championship game. However, penalties would not be kind to the Gryphons, as they were unable to solve Gee-Gees goalkeeper Cassidy Joslin who stopped 3 of the 4 Gryphon penalties helping Ottawa to a 2-1 win in the penalty shootout.

With the win, the two-time defending OUA champion Ottawa Gee-Gees advance to the OUA Championship and will play the winner of Sunday's match between York Lions and Nipissing Lakers. The win also clinches a berth to the U SPORTS Women's Soccer Championship for the Gee-Gees.

The playoff loss wraps up an impressive season for the Gryphons who finish the regular season with an 8-3-1 record, including a 1-0 win over McMaster in the OUA quarterfinal round.