WATERLOO, ON - Sunday afternoon at the University of Waterloo, the Gryphons men's soccer team improved to 2-0-1 (wins-losses-draws) thanks to a 4-0 road victory over the Waterloo Warriors (1-2-0).

The first half was rather forgettable from a Gryphons standpoint. But in the second half, the Gryphons showed why they are one of the top teams in the conference. After a scoreless opening 45 minutes, the Gryphons poured in four goals in the second half with Tomasz Skublak, Youssef Zaghoul, Chris Jacovou and Alex Zis all find the score sheet.

Despite dominating possession during the opening half, the Gryphons failed to create any consistent scoring pressure and struggled to sustain any real tempo. Early in the second half however, the Gryphons would open the scoring off a corner in the 49th minute when rookie Alex Zis swung in a cross that was headed home by Tomasz Skublak for his second goal of the young season. 

Gryphons head coach Keith Mason made a total of four changes at the half, and it would be one of those substitutes who would stretch the Gryphon lead to 2-0. Second year winger Youssef Zaghoul (Oakville, ON) scored his first goal of the 2016 season in the 60th minute and would continue to make an impact on the match throughout the final half hour as well. In the 84th minute, the Gryphons would produce perhaps their best team goal of the match with several players contributing on a nicely executed counter-attack. Included in that buildup was a nice run by Zaghoul with second year attacking midfielder Chris Jacovou (Toronto, ON) finish off the quick counter by cutting inside and curling home his first goal of the season to make it 3-0 Guelph.

The scoring would be capped off in the 90th minute on a beautifully taken free kick from first year midfielder Alex Zis (Oakville, ON). After the Gryphons were awarded a free kick right on the edge of the Warriors 18-yard box, Zis would step up and deliver a perfectly placed strike past the Waterloo keeper and in for his second goal of the season.

Zis was one of a handful of first year players to impress for the Gryphons on Sunday, with rookie goalkeeper Simon Norgrove (Victoria, B.C.) looking solid in his Gryphon debut in the second half. Fellow rookie Quintin McCleary (Oakville, ON) also impressed as he was filling in at centre back for injured fifth year team captain Justin Springer. Springer's injury is not serious and it is expected the OUA All-Star defender will return to the Gryphon lineup shortly.

The Gryphons are next in action on Sunday, September 11 when they host the Brock Badgers at 3:15pm at the Gryphon Soccer Complex.