GUELPH, Ont. – Friday night at the Gryphon Soccer Complex in a matchup of two nationally-ranked men's soccer programs, the visiting York Lions escaped Guelph with a 1-0 win over the Gryphons. Lions' midfielder Jorgo Nika scored the game's lone goal, heading home off a corner in the 58th minute.
 
With the result, the Lions (10-0-3) move five points clear of Guelph for top spot in the OUA West division with three games remaining on the regular season schedule. It also marks the first time this season the Gryphons (9-3-1) have been held without a goal in what was also their first defeat on their home field in 2018.  
 
An injury to midfielder Ryan Vyrostko meant the Gryphons were temporarily down to 10 men when York managed to score off of a corner in the 58th minute. The Gryphons best chance to equalize came in the 83rd minute off a corner of their own. Ian Vidovich's strike off the set piece seemed destined for the back of the net, but whizzed just past the post to keep the score 1-0 in York's favour.
 
The Gryphons will now shift their focus to securing a top-two finish in the division, which would clinch a first-round bye. The team will close out the season with three straight road games beginning Sunday (Oct. 14) in Waterloo as they battle the Laurier Golden Hawks (1-9-4).
 
Gryphon Take
"I thought it was a game of two halves. The first half we were the better team. We had a lot of good moments, dominated for long periods, but they defended well and we didn't do enough in the final third to turn the pressure into goals.
 
In the second half, they came out flying and were the better side. Overall, it was a tight affair, between two very good teams. Our goal at the beginning of the year was to secure a top two spot, which we need four points out of nine to accomplish. So we don't have time to feel sorry for ourselves. The most important thing now is that we bounce back Sunday at Laurier and get one step closer to our goal." ~ head coach Keith Mason