GUELPH – The Guelph Gryphons have dug deep to score goals all season. On the final weekend of the OUA regular season, the Gryphons also showed they could prevent them. Guelph followed up a dramatic 1-0 win over the Western Mustangs Saturday with an efficient 0-0 draw against the Windsor Lancers on Senior Day at the Gryphon Soccer Complex.

The defending conference champions and national bronze medalists, ranked No. 8 in last week's U SPORTS poll, closed out the regular season with an 11-3-2 record and third-place finish in the OUA West.

The Gryphons will face the Lancers again in a playoff match on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 6 pm.

Sunday's effort wasn't their prettiest match of an impressive season. But it didn't need to be as Guelph had already secured the home playoff date.

"We 've got to be as defensively sound as we were today," head coach Keith Mason said of his side's preparation for the post-season. "We've got to be better in the attacking third, better in the penalty box and we know we can be."

Mason was thrilled to see the back-to-back clean sheets, the first from number one goalkeeper Simon Norgrove and Sunday's by talented rookie Ryan Collins, who had a simple day from a shot-stopping perspective.

Offensive chances were at a premium though the Gryphons had one of the better opportunities of the first half when Mitchell Lefebvre's straight free kick 25 yards out just sailed over the crossbar of Windsor goalkeeper Kyle Vizirakas's net. The second-year striker scored a late winner Saturday against Western.
 

The most important development for Guelph was the return of star striker Jace Kotsopoulos. The Burlington, ON native had 10 goals in the first nine matches before going down with an injury. Kotsopoulos subbed in during the second half and made an impact despite not scoring. He was able to get a good shot off from inside the area in the 84^th minute but Vizirakas, who had to deal with an Atchu Siva attempt moments later, made the save.

"Just having Jace back for that last 30 minutes today was huge for us," said Mason. "You could see the extra danger he brings. He links the defence and midfield to the attack so well and he gives us a new dimension. It's about us getting him sharp as we can for hopefully a long playoff run and I think he alone will add to the potency up front."

The scoreless draw came on the heels of a thrilling finish in Saturday's match versus Western. Despite an offensive push by the Mustangs, who fired 10 shots on target to keep Norgrove occupied, the match was scoreless heading into the final moments. Lefebvre provided the late heroics and scored an incredible 90^th-minute winner to lift the Gryphons to their 11^th victory of the season.

The Gryphons lost several players from last year's medal-winning side, some to graduation and others who transferred to NCAA schools. But Guelph didn't miss a beat this year, in part because of a talented, youthful lineup but also because of the senior leadership of four departing players. Defenders Owen Botelho and Zachary Rushe, midfielder and Master's student Joshua Seguin, and goalkeeper Braden Taylor, have provided the stability that enabled this group to thrive in a competitive OUA. Mason gave them praise on Senior Day.

"They've been fantastic," Mason said of his most experienced veterans. "This program in the four or five years they've been here, has transformed from 'can we make playoffs' to 'can we challenge for titles.' That's been during their period as Gryphons.

"They can be really proud of the difference they've made cause all of them have played a big part in making us one of the top teams in the province. I'm always sad to see them go and I'm really proud of what they've done."