HAMILTON, Ont. – An away match in Hamilton is typically one of the more difficult games on the Guelph Gryphons men's soccer schedule. It proved to be again in the most recent meeting between the two OUA West rivals. The Gryphons were in line for a result but conceded two late goals in a 3-1 loss to the Marauders Sunday afternoon at Ron Joyce Stadium.
 
Youssef Zaghloul scored for No. 7 Guelph, which saw its seven-game win streak come to an abrupt end.
 
The Gryphons played well for much of the match but suffered a couple uncharacteristic defensive errors late to seal their fate. With the match looking like it would end in a 1-1 draw, McMaster scored a go-ahead goal in the 89^th minute from an attack down the right side of the pitch. Guelph's fullback was left alone and Antonio Sereno would finish on a two-on-one break.
 
In added time, Guelph had a free kick and put everyone in the box, including goalkeeper Ryan Collins, but the ball would go to Robert Tamale, who dribbled the length of the field and scored into an empty net to secure the three points for the Marauders.
 
McMaster opened the scoring in the 15^th minute with a spot kick from Yunus Mollayev. Joe Guindy was fouled inside the area and after the penalty was awarded, Mollayev made no mistake, giving the hosts an early 1-0 lead.
 
But the Gryphons would respond. Zaghloul, who scored the match winner against Brock on Saturday, added his second of the weekend, cutting inside a defender and finishing well with a strike just inside the far post in the 32nd minute.
 
Guelph won the previous meeting between the two sides 2-0 at the Gryphon Soccer Complex earlier in the month. The Gryphons had lost all three matches with McMaster last season, including a disappointing 1-0 defeat in the OUA quarter-final last October in Hamilton.

Guelph is still atop the OUA West with 25 points, with York in second with 24 points, and a match in hand.

 
Turning point
The breakdown on McMaster's second goal will sting for the Gryphons. They were minutes away from taking four of six available points this season from a tough Marauders side but instead took their first loss in a month.

 
Gryphon Take
"We just didn't track back enough. We got caught and they punished us. It was a couple of errors that cost us in the end." – head coach Keith Mason

 
The Record
Guelph is 8-2-1.

 
Next up
Waterloo, Friday, Oct. 5, 12:30 pm @ Gryphon Soccer Complex