The Gryphon's men's soccer team met up with the UOIT Ridgebacks in Oshawa on September 29th, and brought home a 5-2 advantage.   The Gryphons now stand at 5-3-1, while the Ridgebacks add on another loss, with a 1-7-1 standing.
 
Both teams entered the game feeling confident from recent positive results, and the first 20 minutes were very cagey, with both teams looking for holes in the opposition. The first clear chance fell to UOIT who shot over the bar from in close, and this goal scare seemed just the spark needed for Guelph, who then went on to score three quick goals in succession.
 
Forward Robbie Murphy (Ottawa, ON) scored first in the 27th minute off a cross from Drew Gowan, then Jacob Stolle scored two minutes later from excellent build up play by Dena Iezady and Mike Bijman. The third goal came just inside the half hour mark when Stolle added to his tally with another finely headed goal.
 
The Gryphons were forced to play with 10 men from the 36th minute onwards when midfielder Brendan Springer (Burlington, ON) was judged to have fouled UOIT's forward Justin Gordon (Pickering, ON) and was given a straight red card. Nonetheless, Guelph went into the half three goals to the good.
 
UOIT attempted to make their numerical advantage count in the second half, but Guelph still controlled much of the possession. UOIT scored two goals in the second half, both by Gordon whose pace was always a menace to the back four; both his goals came from breaks that were mis-judged by the Guelph defenders, the first in the 58th minute and the second in the 82nd.
 
The goal of the game was a significant one; Murphy picked up the ball a full 30 yards from goal and split two UOIT defenders before smashing an unstoppable shot into the top left corner of UOIT's net. Not only was this Murphy's 9th of the season, but it was his 23rd overall, which ties him for first all-time among University of Guelph goal scorers – tied with Tony Zanini.
 
The gloss was added to the match when Colin Aubrey (Ottawa, ON) broke down the left wing to cross a great ball into the box for substitute Max Bair-Marshall (Ottawa, ON), who tapped in to make it 5-2 and score his first goal of the season.
 
The Gryphon's next game is against the Laurier Golden Hawks on Sunday in Guelph.  The game begins at 1pm.