Box Score
Toronto, ON – Sunday afternoon at York Stadium, the Gryphons Men's Soccer team lost 4-3 to the York Lions in extra time in what was a thrilling OUA Quarterfinal matchup. With the loss, the Gryphons 2015 season comes to an end while the Lions move on to the OUA Final Four.
 
In 2016, the Gryphons will host the Men's CIS Soccer Championships. If this game was any indication, the team is more than ready to compete with the very best the CIS has to offer. During the regular season, the York Lions went 13-1-2 and entered the playoffs ranked No. 3 in Canada. York also entered the postseason as two-time defending OUA champs as well as defending national champions. And the Gryphons gave them all they could handle.
 
After falling behind 1-0 in Sunday's OUA Quarterfinal, the Gryphons were able to get back to level terms on a goal from rookie forward Atchu Siva (Brampton, ON). His goal was the result of some nice work from fellow rookie Tomasz Skublak (Hamilton, ON) who was able to beat his man on a one-on-one by the touch line before playing the ball into a crowded box. The ensuing scramble ended with Siva finishing into an open net as the game was tied 1-1 in the 31^st minute. It wouldn't stay that way for long. Three minutes later, York re-took the lead on a goal from Dena Iezady as the Lions took a 2-1 lead into the half.
 
In the second half, the Gryphons would once again tie things up after they were awarded a penalty. Jalen Noronha (Wellesley, ON) converted from the spot, and the match was all square at 2-2 in the 61^st minute. Gryphon goalkeeper Ben Caranci (Richmond Hill, ON) had entered the game as a substitute after starter Braden Taylor left the game with an injury. Caranci had the biggest performance of his Gryphon career, and in the 82^nd minute he came up with his first of several game-changing saves on the night.
 
However, in the 89^th minute, there was not much Caranci could do when York's Tyrone Downes got on the end of a perfectly weighted cross and finished emphatically to give the Lions a 3-2 lead with only a minute remaining in regulation. At first glance, it appeared to be the dagger. The Gryphons however were still very much alive. In stoppage time, off a long throw-in, the ball would be flicked on towards the six-yard box and headed home by first year midfielder Chris Jacovou (Richmond Hill, ON). For a third time in the match, the Gryphons had fought back to tie things up. The defending champs were in shock. The late drama meant extra time was needed at York Stadium.
 
In the first half of extra time, the Lions were throwing everything they had at U of G keeper Ben Caranci who seemed to be making one big save after another to keep the game tied 3-3. Despite Caranci's heroics, the Lions would eventually find a way through thanks to their star striker. In the 105^th minute, CIS leading scorer Michael Cox would give York the lead with strong run that finished with a chip over Caranci and in. It was asking a lot, but if the Gryphons were to keep their season alive, they would need to come from behind to find an equalizer for a fourth time on the night. They came awfully close.
 
Near the 120^th minute of play, Tomasz Skublak unleashed a hard, low strike that seemed destined for the bottom corner of the net. Somehow, York goalkeeper Colm Vance was able to get an outstretched finger on it to steer it just wide of the post. The final whistle would sound soon after as the defending national champion York Lions escaped with a 4-3 victory over the Gryphons.
 
While the close call will be tough for the Gryphons to get over, there is no doubt the future looks bright for Keith Mason's squad. Not only were here several first year players stepping up and playing crucial roles as rookies in 2015, the Gryphons also have the luxury of returning their entire squad for next year as Captain Justin Springer and Ethan Danielli are set to return for their fifth years in 2016.