GUELPH – The Guelph Gryphons women's soccer team has typically been used to tight matches with their rival from Waterloo the Laurier Golden Hawks. And their most recent meeting Sunday afternoon at the Gryphon Soccer Complex was no different. Neither side could find the back of the net as Guelph and Laurier battled to a 0-0 draw in the annual Think Pink match in support of breast cancer awareness.

The goalless draw wasn't from a lack of creativity on each side. Both the Gryphons and Golden Hawks had chances but the decisive goal never materialized. Laurier outshout the hosts 8-6, with three shots on target to Guelph's two. And each side had to be sharp at key moments to keep the clean sheet.

"It was a tight game," said Gryphons' coach Shayne Campbell. "Early on, we had some really good chances and we didn't convert. Near the end, they had some good, clear chances that they didn't convert either. You got the sense that if someone had scored a goal, it would've been the winner."
 

They met three times in 2016, a 2-2 draw in Waterloo for the season opener, a 1-0 Gryphons' win at the Gryphon Soccer Complex on Oct. 5 and then in Guelph again for the OUA preliminary round of the playoffs, a 2-1 Guelph win in penalty kicks. The Gryphons did defeat Laurier 3-0 when they played in Waterloo earlier this season, a one-sided result that's been an exception in recent history.

Guelph goalkeeper Libby Brenneman was called upon late to keep her fifth clean sheet of the season. The fourth-year Baden, ON native tipped a Laurier shot from distance over the bar in the 79^th minute and moments later, another shot from a scramble in the area just went by the left post.

Campbell was pleased with how Guelph dealt with the late Laurier pressure.

"We bent but we didn't break," he said. "Defensively, we held strong, especially near the end when it was really important."

The Gryphons (6-3-2) were close to goals on a few occasions. One of the best opportunities came in the latter part of the first half when Guelph created a turnover, allowing Venessa Mazur to go in on Laurier goalkeeper Ashley Almeida. Mazur skillfully cut around the keeper but her shot from a tough angle was cleared by a Laurier defender for a Gryphon corner, one of eight in the match.

Late in the half, Alana MacLean won a loose ball on the left side and sent a great pass into the box where Victoria Gunnarson gathered but just missed the right post.

"We couldn't connect that last ball in the box today," Campbell said. "But I was really proud of the effort that the girls displayed. Laurier really pushed at the end for a winner and we hung on and stayed strong until the end."

There was an excellent turnout for the Think Pink match. And the Gryphon Soccer Complex was riddled with pink balloons and ribbons, which were put up by the Gryphon players themselves.

"The girls were up early and about 10 of them took part in the Run for the Cure," said Campbell. "Then they came and decorated.

"You see the importance of the community to our team."

Guelph is back in action Friday, Oct. 6. The Gryphons travel to St. Catharines to face the Brock Badgers at 6 pm.