GUELPH, Ont. – With the playoff picture still very unclear in the OUA's West Division, there was plenty on the line Wednesday night at the Gryphon Soccer Complex when the home town Gryphons took on the visiting Laurier Golden Hawks. Entering the contest with both teams part of a three-way tie for the top spot in the division along with the Western Mustangs, the Gryphons picked up a massive three points with a 1-0 victory.
Finding the back of the net in the 6th minute off the boot of Venessa Mazur, the Gryphons took an early 1-0 and were able to make it hold up the rest of the way en route to securing three points against a strong Golden Hawks side.
"We were really trying to push when we had that early control in the game," said Gryphon's Head Coach Shayne Campbell. "You know at some point the momentum is going to switch, that's just the way the OUA works so if you can find that second goal it gives you some space to work. Although it didn't come, I thought we still did a lot of great things tonight, and we'll take the points anytime we can."
From the moment the official whistled time in, the Gryphons were on their front foot. With their home crowd behind them Guelph was able to gain control of the contest right away. Creating some pressure, it only took six minutes for the home side to be rewarded. After receiving a feed from just outside the Laurier box, Venessa Mazur dribbled the ball for a few moments, found a patch of grass to her liking and struck the ball into the back of the Golden Hawk's goal.
"I was just waiting for the perfect moment when the defenders began to split," Mazur said. "I knew I just wanted to do it for my team and help everyone out. I took it upon myself to make sure I scored on that chance to help us win."
With early momentum on their side, Guelph continued to push for a second goal. Firing eight more shots throughout the first half, with seven of them on target, the Gryphons were able to create numerous chances but the second goal evaded them.
With the score still 1-0 in favour of the Gryphs as the second half began, the Golden Hawks really began to find their footing. Shortly after a Guelph attempt hit the outside of the post, Laurier started to tilt the field towards the Gryphon's end. Generating chances of their own, Laurier came close to finding the equalizer on a few different occasions. No attempt came any closer though than a Laurier strike in the 60th minute. Set up at the top of the box, Sasha Marikano unleashed a long and curving strike that rung the right post yet still stayed out.
Fortunately for the Gryphons, outside of that one strike, senior goalkeeper Brooke Davidson was able to get at least a piece of the remaining Laurier chances to keep the clean sheet and the Guelph lead.
The Guelph victory means they now sit in a two-way tie for first in the West. Both Guelph and Western hold a 5-2-2 record with one game each left to play. The Golden Hawks, who fell to 4-3-2 now sit in third. The Gryphons and Laurier we will meet once more on Sunday in a season finale match loaded with playoff implications.
"We knew it was very important to create some advantage sort of advantage at home before going over there and not having to chase them," Campbell said. "This is far from done though and we've got work to do."
