Photo Credit: SPORTDAD Sports Photography

Guelph, ON - Thanks to a six goal opening quarter, the Gryphon Men's Lacrosse team was able to muster a 13-9 win over the Nipissing Lakers Sunday afternoon at the Gryphon Soccer Complex. The win wraps up Guelph's regular season, giving the team an 8-4 record; enough for sole possession of 3^rd place in the west division and a home field playoff game next Saturday, October 31.
 
After scoring early and often in the first quarter, the Gryphons were able to take an 8-2 lead into half time. Defensively, Guelph was once again solid in front of starting goalie Mike Lalani. With a commanding lead to start the third the Gryphons were put on their heels when the team received a 3 minute, non-releasable illegal stick penalty to start the second half. Guelph's man down defense was up to the task early, causing the Lakers to turn over the ball. But the Gryphons were unable to clear their zone, giving Nipissing another chance on the power play. The Lakers would score twice with the man advantage to close the gap to 8-4.
 
The Gryphons would respond at the 12:00 mark with an unassisted goal from midfielder Brett Ulbikas but the Lakers continued to push.   Guelph would give up another with 4 minutes in the quarter but Ulbikas put the Gryphons back up by 5 with 21 seconds left in the third. The Gryphons made a goaltending change to start the final quarter but had several defensive breakdowns in front of Dmytro Dutka. Early in the quarter Guelph would leave a Laker long pole defensemen alone on a rush and Nipissing pulled to within 4. Guelph's defense would cause several turn overs in the first half of the quarter but the offense was impatient and gave the ball back to the Lakers. Nipissing's offense continued to work for somewhat open opportunities to shoot; opportunities that they would capitalize on 3 more times. With 8 minutes remaining in the game, the Lakers had reduced Guelph's lead to 10-9 and were pressuring the Gryphons everywhere on the field.
 
Finally on one of their few possessions of the 4^th quarter Guelph attackman Mike Cavanagh took matters into his own hands and brought Nipissing's run to an end. Lalani, back in the game, made a key stop in close on the next Nipissing possession and after the Gryphons cleared the ball, they spread their offense out. Nipissing, forced to pressure all over the field, left their net wide open and were not able to contain the Gryphons. Jared Bouwman and Zack Luis would each add empty netters for the Gryphons, giving them the 13-9 win. "We had a great start and completely overwhelmed Nipissing," said Coach Kosakowski. "Our offense slowed up and our defense didn't give Dmytro the support he needed in the 4^th and we let a much weaker team climb back into the game with us."
 
Cavanagh and Ulbikas each had 5 points on the night; 5 goals for Ulbikas and 3 goals and 2 assists for Cavanagh. Luis had a pair and an assist with Bouwman, Liam Corbett Brent Layton each had one. For Layton, it was his first goal as a Gryphon. The Gryphons will want to eliminate any lapses next week, when they host McMaster in the first round of the play offs.   McMaster, who finished 6 points behind the Gryphons are on a roll to end their season and will be ready to challenge the Gryphons for a berth in the Baggataway Cup. Game time on October 31 is 3pm at the Gryphon Soccer Complex.