OTTAWA, Ont. – Despite putting forth a very strong showing and tremendous effort, the Guelph Gryphons dream for national gold came to an end Saturday afternoon at Raven's Perch. In what could only be described as an intense, hard-fought battle, it was the Montreal Carabins coming away with a 1-0 victory in extra time, sending them into Sunday's national championship game.
With regulation time not enough to find a goal in the match, it wasn't until 100 minutes had been played when Guy-Frank Essome-Penda jumped on a rebound in the Gryphon's box and hammered home the lone goal of the contest.
All throughout the semi-final, it was very apparent the two sides were evenly matched.
Throughout the first 20 minutes of the game, both sides were in a feeling out process with a couple of chances created, but nothing of any substance.
As the first 45 minute session continued on, a couple more opportunities presented themselves. In the 27
th minute, the Gryphs were able to create some pressure off of a corner kick, but nothing further. Then just before halftime, Guelph had perhaps their best chance up to that point. Off a free kick from just inside midfield, Alex Zis launched the ball towards the Carabin's box. After a mad scramble ensued, the ball rolled to the foot of
Colin Gander who sent his strike just above the target.
In the second half Montreal began to force play towards the Gryphon's end. Up to the task though, Gryphon's keeper
Svyatoslav Artemenko made multiple amazing saves throughout the half to keep the Gryphons level with the Carabins. Most notably, in the 73
rd minute, Artemenko was able to get his finger tips on a ball to his right, which was just enough to redirect it wide of the post.
Having weathered the second half storm, the Gryphons created one last opportunity for themselves before the 90 minutes were up. Playing in the 86
th minute, it was once again Zis launching a ball towards the Montreal box from a set piece that was headed towards goal but stopped by Carabin's keeper, Felix Goulet. From there though, the ball continued to bounce dangerously near the Montreal goal, until Goulet was able to jump on it just shy of the goal line.
With no goals on the board, the two teams headed to extra time, where the Carabin would get on the board with Essome-Penda's marker.
However, despite falling behind, the Gryphons appeared to have answered just four minutes later in the 104
th minute. Sending in a cross,
Colin Gander's pass went off a Montreal defender and into the back of the goal. Although the Gryphons erupted in celebration, it was very short lived as the referee quickly whistled
Owen McKee for a foul leading up to the near own-goal. Trying to gain positioning, McKee wound up working through the back of the Carabin defender just as the ball deflected off his chest and into the net.
From that point, the Gryphons unfortunately were unable to find the equalizer over the final 20 minutes.
Making a bid to reach their first national final since 1990, the Gryphon's wound up missing by the smallest of margins.
Despite the defeat, the Gryphons will still have a chance to tie a very impressive bow on an incredible season tomorrow when they compete in the U SPORTS bronze medal match. Match time is set for 11am against either Cape Breton or Carleton.
