GUELPH, Ont. – A timely goal from the team's star striker combined with some sound defensive play was a recipe for success for the Guelph Gryphons women's soccer team on Saturday afternoon in St. Catharines. The Gryphons took all three points in a 1-0 road win over the Brock Badgers thanks to a 45th minute goal from Victoria Hinchliffe. The Gryphons, who pressured the Badgers throughout the match, finishing with 11 shots on target compared to just 2 from Brock, would find their breakthrough in the late stages of the opening half. After some terrific build-up play by the Gryphons, Sydney Johnson's shot would be steered away by Brock keeper Marilena Spagnolo, but would ricochet right to the boot of Hinchliffe, who would tap home into an empty net for her fourth goal in five matches to start the 2018 season.
 
The Gryphons would remain poised throughout the second half, with fifth-year OUA all-star keeper Libby Brenneman picking up the clean sheet. The Gryphons currently sit atop the OUA West Division with 11 points and will now return home for a Sunday afternoon matchup with the McMaster Marauders.
 
Gryphon Take
"We created a lot of really good chances today, but just as importantly, we defended well. We were able to limit the number of opportunities they had and that's a good thing for our team. Coming here, it's not an easy place to play and they're a team that plays well at home. We were sound defensively and I thought A.C. (Ann-Carolyn Lang), Jenna Holtz and Sayan Ladhani really controlled the midfield for us throughout the day." – head coach Shayne Campbell
 
The Record
Guelph is 3-0-2.
 
Next up
vs McMaster, Sunday, Sept. 9, 1 pm