WATERLOO – The Guelph Gryphons men's soccer team should never be accused of 'parking the bus.' The Gryphons will attack until the final whistle goes, an approach that has paid off several times this season for the No. 8 ranked side in the country. It happened again in Waterloo as an injury-time goal from rookie defender Toni Zlomislic helped Guelph steal three points with a 2-1 win over the Warriors Wednesday night.

Guelph (10-3-1) often displays that kind of courage, which is instilled by head coach Keith Mason. With the match tied 1-1 in the 93^rd minute, fourth-year midfielder Jalen Noronha threw a ball in from the right sideline that traveled through the area and to the back post, where Zlomislic had set up. The first-year man from Mississauga simply side-footed it home for both the win and the first goal of his OUA career.

"It was another exciting finish," said a relieved Mason, who switched to a 3-5-2 formation in the second half to try generate more offence. "The guys kept fighting until the end. Waterloo defended very well but we were able to get our just reward."

The win guarantees that the Gryphons will finish no worse than third in the OUA West, clinching a home playoff date.

Guelph started fast in the match, grabbing an early 1-0 lead in just the fifth minute. That first goal also came off a throw-in, this time from midfielder Owen Botelho, who found Joshua Seguin for a one-time strike in behind Waterloo goalkeeper Damian Kruschat.

But poor defending on a set piece would cost the Gryphons later in the half. The Warriors won a corner on the left side and a curling ball in found the head of fourth-year midfielder Nicholas Ribeiro, who placed it just inside the left post out of Simon Norgrove's reach.

"We were static," said Mason. "They wanted that more than we did and it gave them life. We had dominated to that point."
 
The Gryphons wrap up regular season play with back-to-back home matches against Western and Windsor on Saturday and Sunday. Both games begin at 3:15 pm.