GUELPH, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphons men's soccer team grew accustomed to producing late-match heroics in an effort to earn points in 2017. They were at it again early this season on their home pitch. Fifth-year defender
Calvin Witzell scored in added time to help Guelph come away with a 1-1 draw, and an all-important point, against the Western Mustangs at the Gryphon Soccer Complex Sunday afternoon.
Gryphon striker Jon Amoo looks for an opening
Western's Luca Trivisonno put the visitors in front in the 33
rd minute with a solid strike from the top of the 18-yard box, forcing the Gryphons were forced to chase the match despite having the lion's share of chances. Guelph pressed high from the outset and hit several posts to keep Mustangs' goalkeeper Kody Thomson on alert.
The Gryphons regrouped at halftime, a little unlucky to be trailing after the opening 45 minutes in which they had six shots and four corner kicks. Guelph continued to throw bodies forward, especially after switching to three defenders at the back in the latter portion of the match. On their sixth corner of the day, the hosts would finally convert a chance. The ball fell to Witzell at the back post, where the Kitchener, ON native took a touch, faked his first shot, then finished with a powerful strike.
Turning point
The Gryphons probably deserved a few more goals on the afternoon but they had to be satisfied to secure a point in such dramatic fashion. Witzell's late strike was critical not only for the tie but to wrap up the opening weekend of OUA play on a positive in front of the home fans.
Gryphon Take
"We have a really strong team going forward and we showed that today. We just got a little bit unlucky. As our games progress, the goals will start going in and we won't have to leave it to the last minute. We were confident throughout the whole game. We knew we were the better team the first half and that the goals were going to come. We just had one defensive lap and they ended up capitalizing. We remained confident and it carried us through in the second half." –
defender Calvin Witzell
The Record
Guelph is 1-0-1.
Next up
@ York, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 8:15 pm
