Box Score
Guelph, ON – The Gryphons Women's Soccer team (1-0-0) opened up the 2015 OUA regular season with a hard-fought 1-0 win on home field over the visiting Windsor Lancers (0-1-0).  Rookie forward Hayley Howes (Windsor, ON) scored the game's lone goal in the 86^th minute.
 
The game was a re-match of last season's opening round OUA playoff matchup.  Much like that meeting, which the Gryphons won 2-1 on penalties, this match also was a tightly contested affair.  Both back lines held strong and scoring chances were few and far between as the teams were knotted 0-0 after 45 minutes of play.  In the second half, Guelph's second year keeper Libby Brenneman was called upon when a Windsor player unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the 18-yard box.  Libby would stand tall, getting a hand to the ball to deflect it over the bar and out of harm's way.
 
With the game still scoreless in the 86^th minute, the Gryphons would find a break through thanks to highly touted rookie Hayley Howes.  Howes would be played through and would put her blazing speed on display to out-pace the Lancers defender before calmly sliding home the winner past the Windsor keeper.  While this was the first official OUA goal of Hayley's career, it was also the latest on what has been an impressive start to her U of G career.  Howes impressed during the preseason, scoring in her Gryphon debut against NCAA opponent Niagara University, and later in the preseason, scoring twice against the Concordia Stingers.
 
While Hayley's ability to finish has turned some heads, the team play of the Gryphons defensively has been equally impressive early on in the 2015-16 season.  Including preseason games, the Gryphons have conceded just one goal in six contests.
 
The Gryphons Women's Soccer team will be right back at it once again on Sunday (Aug. 30) when they play host to the Waterloo Warriors (0-0-1).  The Warriors are coming off an impressive road performance on Saturday as they were able to storm back late against McMaster to erase a 2-0 deficit and earn the draw.  Game time for the Gryphons and Warriors is set for 1pm on Sunday at the Gryphon Soccer Complex.