GUELPH, Ont. - Going for a second straight win, the Guelph Gryphons did what they had to do and took care of their home field Friday night. Playing host the to the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, the Gryphons made the most of a 34th minute goal from Kate Knafelc to defeat the Hawks 1-0. Guelph largely dominated possession of the ball during the first half which led to multiple chances for the home team but it wasn't until the 34th when the Gryphons would break through.
After the ball got worked down towards the Laurier box, the ball bounced off of Victoria Hinchliffe and on to the foot of Knafelc who calmly slid the ball home for a 1-0 advantage and her third goal of the season. Minutes later Hinchliffe set up Sydney Johnson in tight but her strike sailed just over the bar.
Once the second half rolled around the Hawks began to push back looking for the equalizer. Doing their best to shift momentum in their favour, Laurier pushed deep into Guelph territory but were never able to manage a threatening shot. The closest call for the visitors came in the final five minutes of the contest off of a corner kick, but Gryphon's goalkeeper Brooke Davidson jumped on the loose ball and eliminated any further danger.
The rest of the way Guelph managed to hold the ball deep in Laurier's end before the final whistle blew.
With the victory, the Gryphons improve to 6-1-1 on the season and sit second place in the West with 19 points. They will now switch their focus to the York Lions who will pay a visit to Guelph on Sunday.
Quotes from Gryphons Head Coach Shayne Campbell:
"I though the girls played really well in the first half with the way we moved the ball and the chances we created. In the second half, you are always going to get a response from Laurier. They are a good team, and they are well coached, so we expected a response as they really had to push to get something. So the second half was much of us being resilient defensively."
"For a long time we have prided ourselves on making sure we take care of the defending aspect of our game. They didn't really get in behind us. They caused us some trouble in front of us but not behind us. I thought the back line played strong and they gave a good account of themselves."
"(Kate Knafelc) is someone who has nerves of steel when she gets central and has an ability to finish off the goal. That's three times this year where she's been in tight and really calmly slotted the ball home. I give her a lot of credit. For a young player to find the net like that is a real credit to the work she had done over the past couple of years. She's a natural goal scorer."
