GUELPH, Ont. – The Gryphons used a late goal from midfielder Alexander Zis to secure a point on Friday night versus the Brock Badgers in a game that finished in a 1-1 tie at the Gryphon Soccer Complex.
 
For the Brock Badgers, offensive chances were few and far between on the night, but the visitors were able to open the scoring just before the half thanks to a familiar face around the University of Guelph. Brampton native Jared Agyemang spent three seasons with the Gryphons (2012-2014), including a standout 2014 campaign at U of G when he led the OUA in goals (16) and earned 2nd team All-Canadian honours. Since arriving at Brock, Agyemang has continued to showcase the same scoring touch that Gryphon fans were accustomed to. Agyemang's goal in the 44th minute on Friday night gave the Badgers a 1-0 lead and was his third goal of the season in three games played, tying him for the league lead in goals scored alongside Gryphon midfielder Youssef Zaghloul.
 
The Gryphons were once again forced to play on Friday night without the services of reigning U SPORTS Player of the Year Jace Kotsopoulos, who missed his third straight game after suffering a lower body injury in the season opener versus York. The Gryphons showed off tremendous depth in the previous two games without Kotsopoulos, scoring a combined seven goals in two games thanks to a 4-1 win over Waterloo and 3-1 win over Laurier. But Friday night, goals were harder to come by for the Gryphons against a tough Brock defence. But the Gryphons would continue to push and would be rewarded in the closing moments of the match.
 
In the 90th minute, the Gryphons would be awarded a penalty after rookie Damian Truong was brought down inside the box by Brock keeper Alexander May. Alex Zis would be the one for the Gryphons to step up and take the penalty, and the talented midfielder would make no mistake, coolly converting from the spot to tie the game at 1-1 and secure a point for the Gryphons. For Zis, a marketing management major from Oakville, the goal marked his first as a Gryphon since 2016 when he scored a total of 15 goals (8 during the regular season, 7 in the playoffs) during Guelph's OUA title run. Zis has spent the past two seasons south of the border with the NCAA's South Florida Bulls before transferring back to the University of Guelph for the 2019 season. Thanks to Zis' late goal on Friday night, the Gryphons remain undefeated on the young season at 2-0-2 (wins-losses-draws).
 
Quote from Gryphon head coach Keith Mason:
"Very proud of the guys, they showed great character today. They persevered to the end. Brock defended and defended for 90 minutes solid and were able to take advantage of one breakaway. It was just one of those days where the ball wasn't dropping for us. But luckily, the guys kept pushing and in the end, got the minimum of what they deserved with the tie."
 
The Gryphons will return to action next weekend with a pair of road games as they visit the Windsor Lancers Friday night (Sept. 13) followed by a Sunday afternoon matchup in London versus the Western Mustangs (3:15pm – Sunday, Sept. 15).