GUELPH, ON – The Guelph Gryphons men's soccer team played a rare mid-week, mid-afternoon game Wednesday at Alumni Stadium as part of a school day promotion for local elementary students. While the start time was unusual, the final result was something that has become familiar as the No. 8-ranked Gryphons men's soccer team improved to 8-1-2 (wins-losses-draws) on the season with a 2-1 victory over the visiting Laurier Golden Hawks (6-5-1). With the win, the Gryphons pull seven points ahead of Laurier in the OUA West Division standings. Guelph is currently second in the standings with a game-in-hand on the Hawks who sit tied for third.
 
With a 12:30pm kickoff, the Gryphons and Golden Hawks squared off in front of an excited crowd of youngsters at Alumni Stadium. It was the visiting Golden Hawks who were able to open up the scoring as Laurier's 6-foot-3 forward Nikola Miokovic was able to head home from a corner to put Laurier ahead 1-0 in the 26th minute of play. It would prove to be the only goal of the opening 45 minutes of play as the Gryphons trailed by a goal at the half.
 
Early in the second half, the Gryphons were awarded a penalty after some nice footwork by Tomasz Skublak ended with him being taken down inside the Laurier 18-yard box. Second year striker Jace Kotsopoulos would step up and convert from the spot, placing a perfectly placed shot inside the left post to tie the game at 1-1. For Kotsopoulos, it marked his 11th goal on the season, tying him for the OUA lead with Laurier's Niklas Bauer who kept off the score sheet on Wednesday afternoon.
 
In the 56th minute, the Gryphons would score the game-winner. Some impressive possession and tidy passing by the Gryphons would ultimately end with Skublak sending a through ball for rookie Alex Zis who was able to show great composure to beat the Laurier keeper in a one-on-one. The goal from Zis was his third of the season and also marked the second time in as many matches that he has found the back of the net against Laurier after also scoring back on August 27th in the season opener which the Gryphons won 4-0 over the Hawks.
 
Tomasz Skublak had a terrific performance at centre forward and had a hand in setting up both Gryphon goals while senior Ethan Danielli produced a strong performance in the midfield.
 
The Gryphons are now approaching the tail end of a busy stretch that sees them play four games in six days. They have won each of the first three in that stretch and will next be in action on Friday, October 7th when they host the Waterloo Warriors. Kickoff at the Gryphon Soccer Complex is set for 6pm.