GUELPH, ON - This November, the Gryphons will host a men's soccer national championship for the first time since 1992. While that alone will make 2016 a year to remember, it just so happens that this year's squad is also putting together arguably the greatest regular season in program history. On Thursday night at a rainy Gryphon Soccer Complex, the Gryphons won 2-0 over the visiting Western Mustangs. With the win, the Gryphons improve to 11-2-2 (wins-losses-draws) on the season. The 11 wins mark a single-season record. So too do the 35 points the team has amassed. All of this comes with still one game remaining on the regular season schedule.

The first half of play on Thursday night was described by Gryphons head coach Keith Mason as one of Guelph's best played halves of the entire season. That did not necessarily translate to goals however. Despite dominating play, with Western unable to get out of their own end at any point, the Gryphons and Mustangs remained scoreless for much of the opening 45 minutes thanks in large part to some solid play from Western keeper Kody Thomson. In the opening 10 minutes, Gryphons rookie standout Alexander Zis unleashed a strike from 25 yards out that troubled Thomson on the wet surface. A tantalizing rebound fell to Gryphons star striker Tomasz Skublak who was denied on a terrific save by Thomson. 


Midway through the first half, Guelph's other star striker, Jace Kotsopoulos, had a terrific one-on-one chance versus Thomson, but he too was unable to find the back of the net. With the score still tied 0-0 in the 45th minute, the Gryphons would finally find their breakthrough. After Alex Zis sent a deep cross to the back post, Skublak would head the ball back in front of goal where Kotsopoulos would tap in his team-leading 15th goal of the season to give the Gryphons a 1-0 lead heading into the half. For second year forward Jace Kotsopoulos, his 15 goals on the season have him sitting tied for second amongst the leading scorers in the country.

In the second half, Western would sub on some extra attackers and produce some pressure on the Gryphons back line. Guelph was able to deal with the sustained pressure nicely, with goalkeeper Ben Caranci rarely tested on the night. In the 75th mintue, the Gryphons appeared to extend the lead to 2-0, but a goal from Tomasz Skublak was waved off on an offside. In the 88th minute, Skublak would strike once again. This time, the goal would stand. After a perfectly weighted through ball from Chris Jacovou, Skublak was able to convert in a one-on-one with the Western keeper as he showed great composure to outweight Kody Thomson before scoring his 10th goal of the season. No forward combination in the country has produced more goals than the 25 from Kotsopoulos and Skublak, both of whom are in just their second year of eligibility.

With the 2-0 win by the Gryphons on Thursday night, they remain 3 points back of York for first place in the OUA West Division. The Gryphons and Lions, the No. 4 and No. 1-ranked teams in the country, respectively, have both already clinched opening round byes in the OUA playoffs. The Gryphons will wrap up their regular season schedule on Sunday, October 23rd when they host the Windsor Lancers at 3:15pm at Alumni Stadium.