GUELPH, ON - The Gryphons men's lacrosse team started their 2016 Baggataway Cup playoff run Saturday afternoon with a dominant 14-3 win over Laurentian at the Gryphon Soccer Complex. With the win the Gryphons advance to the Quarterfinals of the 2016 Baggataway Cup, which will be hosted by Brock Nov. 4 to 6

The Gryphons dominated from the opening faceoff, controlling the ball on offense and keeping the Laurentian attack well on the perimeter on defense.  Guelph's defense was so dominant in fact, that Laurentian's only goals came on broken plays in transition; none were regular strength, 6 on 6 goals.

Offensively, Guelph had Laurentian's defense running in circles, chasing the ball as it moved like clockwork from Gryphon stick to stick. The only knock against the Gryphons, especially early in the game, is that they missed several glaring chances to score.  The Gryphon 3-1 lead after the first quarter could have easily been a 5 or 6-1 lead.

In the second, the Gryphons traded early goals with Laurentian and then went on a 9 goal run that lasted into the 4^th quarter.  Laurentian was unable to respond.
Josh Manangan (Rexdale, ON) had another dominant performance at face offs, winning over 80% of his draws.  Guelph dominated on loose balls and in the turnover department, only giving the ball away 11 times during the game.  In goal, Mike Lalani (Guelph, ON) in his last home game as a Gryphon, made 13 saves on 15 shots, for an unprecedented 86% save percentage.  He was welcomed back to the bench by his team, to a chorus of "Lani, Lani, Lani" when he came out of the game with 10 minutes remaining. 

Early in the 4^th quarter, on a Gryphon fast break, attackman Brent Layton (Barrie, ON) was rocked by a solid body check by the Laurentian goalie.  The hit seemed to energize the Laurentian bench, but not long after, Layton would return the favor with a punishing check that saw the Laurentian goal keeper go airborne at centre field as he tried to carry the ball into Guelph's end.  All the energy that Laurentian may have had was sucked out of them at that moment.

"We played a complete game today, from start to finish" said Gryphon Coach Dan Cannon.  "We had a mental lapse in the 4^th when the game got chippy.  We need to remain focused despite all of cheap stuff going on.  We can't get distracted from our primary purpose."

Despite the end of game antics that saw one Laurentian player expelled from the game and the Laurentian bench penalized for unsportsman-like behavior, the Gryphons maintained their cool and are on their way to another Baggataway Cup appearance.

Gryphon veteran attackman Liam Corbett (Burlington, ON) lead all point getters with 2 goals and 3 assists. Mike Cavanagh (Peterborough, ON) and rookie Alec Simons (Etobicoke, ON ) had four goals each.  James Short (Kitchener, ON) made a sick play when he dodged from behind the net, threw a crazy fake that turned all of the Laurentian defenders' heads and then ripped a laser to the top right corner much to the appreciation of the Gryphon bench.  Short also had two great assists on 2 Cavanagh goals. Brett Ulbikas (Oakville, ON) added a goal and an assist and Todd Greer (Mulmur, ON) and Zack Luis (NOTL, ON) each added one.

With the win the Gryphons have punched their ticket to the 2016 Baggataway Cup.  Having finished in 3^rd place in the West Division, they will face the East Division 2^nd seed Bishop's Gaiters in the Friday night quarter final.  Bishop's ended in 2^nd place following a major upset as 1^st seed in the East, McGill Redmen lost to 6^th place Ottawa in qualifying action today. The Gryphons will be looking to avenge their 7-6 loss to the Gaiters in the 2015 Baggaway Cup quarter final.