Box Score
Toronto, ON- The Gryphons could not salvage a goal in Sunday's close game, losing 1-0 against last year's National Champion and currently undefeated York Lions. With the loss, the Gryphons record falls to 3-2-1 and the Lions improve to 4-0-1.
 
In the opening minutes, the Gryphons were in control. Field general, Justin Springer, was in control, marshaling his teammates around the field. Their ball movement was impressive, especially in the midfield. Ethan Danielli and Ryan Vyrostko, in the centre of midfield, were passing the ball around very well, keeping the ball away from the Lions for long periods of time. Momentum began to change in the 10^th minute when the Lions were inches away from taking the lead. A York cross, deflected off a Gryphon defender, looped towards an open net. Springer, diving back, acrobatically cleared the ball out of danger. Lions were pressing in the following minutes, eventually missing an opportunity thanks to Gryphon left back, Owen Botelho's tight marking on what would have been an easy tap-in. Lions continuing to pressure the Gryphons' back four, win a free kick just outside the 18 yard box. The free kick sent curving across the six-yard box, the large frame of Lions' forward, Michael Cox, rising highest, he was able to make contact on the ball, heading in his third goal of the campaign. York opened the scoring in the 17^th minute, lead 1-0.  For the second day in a row, the Gryphons were playing catch up after an early goal.
 
The Gryphons most intriguing attack of the half came in the 24^th minute. Left midfielder, Youssef Zaghoul, receiving a pass, slowed the game down. Looking around he weighed his options and using the width of the pitch to his advantage, switched the point of attack, sending the ball across the field to left midfielder, Josh Seguin. Seguin, taking the ball to the ground, found right back Calvin Witzel making a run into attacking space. After a sequence of quick, one-touch passes, the ball was on the foot of Gryphons' leading scorer, Jace Kotsopoulos, on the edge of the area. Without needing to control the pass, Kotsopoulos used his first touch to curve the ball towards the net, sailing inches wide past the right post. The bending shot beat the keeper but unfortunately could not put the Gryphons on level terms. The Lions managed to take their lead into the half.
 
Coming off a strong game the day before, scoring the 45^th minute go-ahead goal against Brock, rookie striker, Atchu Siva, picked up his first start of the season Sunday versus the Lions. The game plan seemed to be built around him. Long ball after long ball, attempting to spring the speedy forward behind the Lions defense. A game of inches, as it always is, York's keeper was forced to run out and dive on a ball, a split second before the sprinting Siva could get a foot on it. Tensions mounted as Siva was on the receiving end of a vicious slide tackle from behind after making a smooth turn on the ball. There were six yellow card in the second half alone.
 
The Gryphons were pushing hard for the tying goal and really had the Lions' on their heels in the closing stages in the game.  A cleared cross bounced to Vyrostko and powering his foot through the ball, sent the low shot just inches wide. Seguin managed to swing a low cross behind the York defenders, but somehow missed the flying feet of two Gryphon forwards crashing the net. Kotsopoulos had space to fire a shot on net from 30 yards out, barely missing left as the crowd screamed a sigh of relief and disappointment. The Lions barely managed to maintain the early lead, riding the 17^th minute goal into full time. The Gryphons fought hard in the loss and look to get back to their winning ways when they host bottom-half-of-the-table Laurier Golden Hawks on September 22 at 12:30. The game can be watched live at OUA.tv.