WATERLOO – The goals have come for the Guelph Gryphons men's soccer team. And the defending OUA champions, ranked No. 3 in the U SPORTS Top 10, have needed all of them in a busy opening week of the season away from home. A weary Guelph side hung on to defeat the Laurier Golden Hawks 3-2 Saturday at University Stadium to remain unbeaten.

Jace Kotsopoulos scored two more goals, while Youssef Zaghloul netted the match-winner for the Gryphons, who have secured 10 of a possible 12 points through a stretch of four away matches.

"The three points were great," said coach Keith Mason. "The performance was not. But we were able to get what we wanted."

Guelph has scored 13 goals in wins over Windsor, York and Laurier, and a draw with Western, seven of those coming from Kotsopoulos.

The Burlington, ON native's 78^th-minute strike put the visitors up 2-1. He calmly finished an unselfish feed from Atchu Siva, who had gone in on a breakaway and faked Laurier goalkeeper Rocco Strazzella before leaving the ball for his teammate.

But there was much more to come in the match. Zaghloul, a third-year midfielder, extended the lead when he headed home in the 89^th minute. Kotsopoulos whipped a freekick into the area that Joshua Seguin headed across to Zaghoul for the decisive goal.

Laurier responded in injury time with a goal from Luca Pietropaolo on what was the last kick of the match.

The score was tied 0-0 at the half and the Gryphons came out attacking after the restart. Strazzella was forced into a sensational diving save in the 47^th minute but Guelph kept coming and the visitors were rewarded in the 56^th minute when Kostsopoulos scored from the six-yard box after receiving a through ball from Zaghloul.

The Gryphons looked like they had secured all three points when the red-hot striker netted his second of the match but the Golden Hawks' Nikola Miokovic answered just moments later for Laurier's first goal of the afternoon.

"We really have to tighten up," Mason said of his side's defending. "We have a young, new defence and goalkeeper. They have played great but have made some errors. We're just leaking too many goals.

"We controlled the play in the second half but gave up two chances and they scored on both."

Guelph is atop the OUA West division. Mason gave the players time off from training to recharge after the four road games.

The Gryphons take on the Brock Badgers Friday, Sept. 8 in the home opener at the Gryphon Soccer Complex. Match time is 8:15pm.