Box Score Guelph, ON – Third year striker
Krista Lopoyda (Niagara Falls, ON) scored the match-winning goal in stoppage time to give the Gryphons a thrilling 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Brock on Saturday afternoon at the Gryphon Soccer Complex. With the victory the Gryphons improve to 4-1-0 while the Badgers fall to 0-5-0.
Midway through a very slow first half, Brock sophomore Olivia Shramowsky scored her first goal of the season to give the Badgers the early lead. In the 21
st minute, the ball came to her at the top of the box and on her first touch, Shramowsky sent a curving volley into the bottom right corner of the net. Brock took the 1-0 lead into the half.
In the second half, Gryphon captain
Courtney Whiteside (Guelph, ON) came agonizingly close to equalizing. From the left side of the area, Whiteside sent a shot destined for the top right corner, requiring a tremendous sprawling save from Brock's freshman goalie, Lauren MacCulloch, who did well to keep it out. The Gryphons were in control after that opportunity. Not soon after, a beautiful cross from defender,
Bianca Ferlisi (Woodbridge, ON) from the left side of the pitch landed on the foot of
Sydney Holden (Peterborough, ON) inside the six-yard box. Holden showed great skill to volley the ball over the keeper for her first goal of the campaign. The goal was a just reward for Holden who had the Badger defence on their heels the entire game with her speed, ball handling and thought process. Holden was forcing corners throughout the game and even drew a free kick just outside the box after a marvelous one-on-one trickery.
The game looked to be headed for a tie until Gryphons leading scorer Krista Lopoyda delivered in stoppage time. After spotting the Brock keeper well off her line, Lopoyda was able to unleash a strike from well over 30-yards out. The ball sailed past the Brock keeper and into the back of the net to give the Gryphons a dramatic 2-1 victory at the death. For Lopoyda, it marked the latest tally in what has been an impressive start to the season as she now has three goals in five games. Other stand out performers for the Gryphons on the day were second year defender
Stephanie Moore (Mississauga, ON) rookie defender
Alexis Adduono (Thunder Bay, ON). Overall, it was a great team effort from the Gryphons who will look to carry the momentum in to their match on Sunday afternoon in York. The Gryphons face the undefeated Lions (4-0-0) at 1pm on Sunday. The game can be seen live online at OUA.tv.
