GUELPH – The Guelph Gryphons men's lacrosse team is going back to the Baggataway Cup. The Gryphons produced their biggest offensive output of the season, crushing the Toronto Varsity Blues 24-11 in the cup play-in game at the Gryphon Soccer Complex Saturday afternoon.
Guelph wasted little time in booking their spot at next week's tournament at Queen's University in Kingston, ON. The upstart Gryphons, No. 5 seed in the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association rankings, took just 17 seconds to open the scoring. And they kept up the pressure all match.
"Our focus from warm up right to the last second of the game was tremendous today," said head coach Sam Kosakowski. "It's the playoffs. This team was dialed in and ready to play today."
Veteran attack
James Short led the way for the Gryphons with five goals and four assists. While Short piled up the points, it was a complete effort from the Guelph lineup that helped dismantle Toronto for the second straight week. Thirteen different Gryphons scored in the play-in game.
Alec Simons had three goals and three assists,
Liam Corbett scored twice with three helpers, while
Mitchell Ogilvie (3-1-4) and
Michael Berger each registered hat-tricks.
Fourth-year draw man Josh
Joshua Manangan was one the heroes for the Gryphons, who defeated the Varsity Blues 18-5 in the season finale last week, the team's previous best goal on the year. Manangan set the tone and won the opening faceoff before scoring the first goal of his three-year career 17 second in. "Mango," as he's known by teammates, then scored his second at 8:15 of the first off yet another faceoff win. He finished an incredible 27-for-27 on draws.
"Mango proved why he's one of, if not the most dominant faceoff man in the Canadian University Field Lacrosse association," said Kosakowski.
The Gryphons finished as well as they started, scoring eight straight in the fourth quarter to complete the rout. Kosakowski called the offence "overpowering" but noted one area that he would like to have cleaned up. Guelph took 11 penalties that resulted in five power-play goals. He and the Gryphons know they will need more discipline in the Baggataway Cup when they take on the winner of Trent and Bishops in a quarter-final.
"We are one step closer to our goal – a sixth national championship," the coach said. "It will be a difficult path for us but one that we're familiar with and ready for."
Box Score
