The Gryphons hosted the Western Mustangs for the second game of the OUA West finals in front of over 800 fans in the Gryphon Centre Saturday night (Mar. 5). After falling in the first game at Western, the Gryphons were looking for a win to stay alive but were unable to overcome a late Mustang lead. The Gryphons' early lead in the first was overturned in the second and after three periods of play the Mustangs walked away with the 4-2 victory.
Matt Lyall (Richmond Hill, Ont.) and Tim Priamo (Guelph, Ont.) were the goal scorers for the Gryphons. Nathan Martine (Port Colborne, Ont.) chipped in two assists on the night, while Ed Gale (Keswick, Ont.) and Thomas Kiriakou (Richmond Hill, Ont.) each added a helper of their own.
Kyle Lamb (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) was the offensive star for the Mustangs this evening potting two goals, including the game-winner, and picking up an assist. Yashar Farmanara (West Vancouver, B.C.) also had a big night for Western picking up a goal of his own and contributing two assists as well.
Andrew Loverock (Elmvale Ont.) made the start for the Gryphons and was solid between the pipes for Guelph, making 26 saves. During the second period, Western seemed to have the upper hand and Loverock stood on his head for the Gryphons, kicking out his pads and flashing his trapper to keep his team alive.
At the opposite end, Anthony Grieco (Brampton, Ont.) also had a great game, stopping 24 of 26 shots for the win.
The Gryphons' season comes to a close with the loss tonight, while the Mustangs will prepare for the OUA finals, against either UQTR or McGill.
The Gryphons came out strong to start the game, looking to keep their championship hopes alive. With their fans rallying behind them, the Guelph squad was able to jump on top early with some nifty work by Matt Lyall.
With 3:45 gone in the first period the Gryphons pressured deep in the Western zone. Ed Gale, looking to find an open lane, worked his way through the faceoff circle to the left of Grieco. Gale dropped the puck back to Ken Peroff (North Bay, Ont.), who was drifting in from the point, and Peroff blasted a shot on net. Grieco was able to get a piece of the rubber and sent it floating through the air to right. Fortunately for the Gryphons, Lyall had set up beside the net and gloved the puck out of the air. Quickly tossing it to the ice, Lyall got a shot off before Grieco could recover and ruffled the mesh to give the Gryphons the 1-0 lead.
It would only take the Gryphons another five minutes before they would get an opportunity on the powerplay to build on their lead. Circulating the puck around the zone, Thomas Kiriakou changed up the pattern, sending a cross-zone pass to Tim Priamo at the point. Priamo wound up and put everything he had into a howitzer that whizzed passed Grieco for a two-goal advantage.
As the period wore on Western seemed to find a bit of a rhythm and dominated much of the play late in the frame. At the 18:28 mark, the Mustangs would finally beat Loverock to narrow the gap to 2-1. Western forward, Chris Rocca (Sarnia, Ont.), brought the puck to the Gryhpon doorstep and snapped a shot at Loverock. Loverock made the initial save, but Rocca hadn't lost his position in front and was able to hack the loose puck under the Gryphon netminder.
The second period saw a lot of high-intensity, back-and-forth hockey with both teams getting chances to put the puck in the net. However, the Mustangs would be the only team to score in the frame, not only catching the Gryphons, but also finding a way to take their first lead of the game.
The first Western goal came at 8:45 off a neutral zone turnover that left two Mustangs staring down a single Gryphon defender. Capitalizing on the fact they had their opponent outnumbered, Yashar Farmanara slid the puck over to teammate, Kyle Lamb, who beat Loverock on a quick one-timer.
Now tied with Guelph, the Mustangs ignited enough of a fire in their offense to steal the lead before the period expired. With just minutes remaining in the frame, Lamb fired a shot on net that ricocheted of the shoulder of Loverock and found the back of the net for his second of the game.
Down by a goal going into the final period, the Gryphons did all they could to get the puck on net, with several chances ending up just wide, or passing through the unattended part of the crease. With none of the bounces going their way, it was extremely disheartening for the Gryphons when the Mustangs connected on a stretch pass that left Farmanara with the puck, 1-on-1, inside the Gryphon zone. Farmanara wound up and blistered a shot passed Loverock to give Western their insurance marker, 4-2.
Written By: Jacob Cassidy
GAME SUMMARY
Western 4 at Guelph 2 - Status: Final
Saturday, March 5, 2011 - Gryphon Centre Arena
Western 1 2 1 - 4
Guelph 2 0 0 - 2
1st Period-1, Guelph, Lyall 2 (Martine, Gale), 3:45. 2, Guelph, Priamo 3 (Kiriakou, Martine), 8:29 (PP). 3, Western, Rocca 1 (Lamb, Farmanara), 18:28. Penalties-Gale Gue (roughing), 0:13; Priamo Gue (slashing), 4:18; Grieco Uwo (slashing), 7:12; Reese Uwo (checking to the head, 10-minute misconduct), 7:12; Belan Gue (roughing), 19:19.
2nd Period-4, Western, Lamb 3 (Farmanara), 8:45. 5, Western, Lamb 4 (Reese, Aarssen), 16:27. Penalties-Brook Gue (slashing), 12:01; Guimond Gue (elbowing), 17:00; Gvora Gue (roughing), 19:51; Turkiewicz Uwo (cross checking), 20:00.
3rd Period-6, Western, Farmanara 2 (Furlong), 10:15. Penalties-Lillie Gue (interference), 7:07; Aarssen Uwo (slashing), 10:46; Belan Gue (inter. on goaltender), 14:27.
Shots on Goal-Western 13-13-4-30. Guelph 10-5-11-26.
Power Play Opportunities-Western 0 / 8; Guelph 1 / 4.
Goalies-Western, Grieco 6-1-0 (26 shots-24 saves). Guelph, Loverock 4-4-0 (30 shots-26 saves)
