Guelph, ON - The Men's Lacrosse team go back onto the winning track tonight with a 14-10 win over Toronto at home. The win gives the Gryphons a 5-2 record just over half way through their season.
 
The Gryphons set the tempo early with goals from Mike Cavanagh (Peterborough, ON) and Brett Ulbikas (Oakville, ON) but Toronto responded just over a minute later to make it 2-1. The teams traded goals and then Gryphon midfielder Calvin Holland (Burlington, ON) playing in his first game of the season for the Gryphons after having suffered an injury in during training camp, scored his first of the season to reestablish Guelph's 2 goal lead.
Nearing the end of the second quarter the Gryphons had extended their lead to 4, thanks in part to a 3 unanswered goals late in the frame. After scoring with just over a minute left in the quarter the Gryphons called a time out, counting on draw man Josh Manangan (Etobicoke, ON) to win the ensuing faceoff, giving the Gryphons another chance to score another. However, Mango lost the draw and Toronto pressed into Guelph's end and called a time out. With 23 seconds remaining, Toronto midfielder Andrew Masson dodged behind the Gryphon goal and rolled out front to score and cut Guelph's lead to three.
 
The third quarter was somewhat of a cat-and-mouse game with both defenses tightening up and neither offense getting any strong scoring chances.  Midway through the quarter the Gryphons ran into penalties, taking 4 in a row. Guelph was aggressive on their penalty kill, forcing several turnovers and eventually successfully killing all four minutes of their disadvantage. Offensively, rookie attackman Zack Luis (N.O.T.L)and veteran midfielder Todd Greer (Orangeville, ON) both found the twine for the Gryphons giving Guelph a 10-5 lead going into the 4^th.
 
In the interval between the quarters a random stick check caught out a Gryphon stick giving Guelph a 3 minute, non-releasable penalty to start the final period.   Toronto scored quickly and called a time out. Toronto won the ensuing face off but Guelph's continued aggressive man-down defense kept the Blue on their heels. Late in the penalty Mike Lalani (Guelph, ON), in the net for the Gryphons made a great save on an outside shot, quickly moved the ball up field to longstick defenseman Nick Wordtmann (Burlington, ON) who outran two Toronto midfielders and then found Luis alone on the crease. Luis buried his third of the night; a shorthanded goal that put the Gryphons back up by 5.
 
Guelph scored two more to open up a 13-6 lead. Although Toronto would go on a 4 goal scoring spree late in the quarter, they were too far behind to make up enough ground for it to matter. Guelph's final goal came on a great individual effort from midfielder Luke Stockden (Mississauga, ON) who, while killing yet another Gryphon penalty, beat two defenders, cut through the middle with the ball and buried a bounce shot just inside the left post give Guelph its 14^th goal of the night. Rookie goaltender Dante Lisi (Scarborough, ON) did a fine job stepping into the pipes to finish the game for the Gryphons.
 
Brett Ulbikas had 3 goals and 2 assists for the Gryphons while rookie Zack Luis recorded his biggest night as a Gryphon with 4 goals. Both Todd Greer and Liam Corbett (Burlington, ON) had 2 goals and a helper each. Cavanagh, Stockden and Holland scored a goal apiece while Brendan Vogan (Toronto, ON) and Nick Wordtmann each contributed an assist.
 
The Gryphons will travel to St. Catharines on Saturday to meet their arch rivals, the Brock Badgers. The Gryphons haven't won at Brock since 2012 but beat them in Guelph last year and again in the Baggataway Cup semi-final by a score of 13-12 in both games.