GUELPH, Ont. – With just mere seconds all that was left between them and a spot in the 2021 OUA Championship, the No. 4-nationally ranked Guelph Gryphons went on to experience the ultimate roller coaster of emotions and the true beauty of what makes sports so great in the span of about two minutes. Playing host to the No. 3-nationally ranked Carleton Ravens Saturday afternoon at the Gryphon Soccer Complex in the OUA semi-finals, the Gryphons were just moments away from securing a hard fought 1-0 victory over the reigning OUA champs until the referee blew his whistle in the final minute of stoppage time.
After seeing the ball strike the hand of Gryphon's midfielder,
Harvey Marchant in his own box, the referee quickly pointed to the penalty spot as all of Guelph stood stunned. Nearly impossible to script, a penalty kick to try and tie a semi-final in the dying moments. However, what happened next may have been even more unbelievable. All season long, Guelph goalkeeper,
Svyatoslav Artemenko had not allowed a goal in regulation time on his home pitch, and as it turns out, he was not going to allow the first one on Saturday either.
Taking the penalty, Carleton's Scott Mazzotta drilled the ball low and to the right, but diving that direction, Artemenko was there to stop it and deflect the ball out of play. After the ensuing Raven's corner-kick was cleared, the Gryphons finally got to hear the whistle they were so desperately waiting for as the official signaled full-time.
With everyone at the Gryphon Soccer Complex on an emotional high following the final few minutes of play that concluded an incredible match, the Gryphon's players and fans all went into celebration.
Leading up to those final minutes, everyone in attendance was treated to a tremendously competitive back and forth affair. Knowing they were going to be in tough against a squad that had returned many of its key players from a U SPORTS bronze medal run in 2019, the Gryphons hung with the Ravens throughout the first half. However, even at the best of times, Carleton are still going to create chances, which they did three times in the opening half, but each time Artemenko was there for Guelph. Then with halftime on the horizon, the Gryphons got the boost they had worked so hard for.
In the 41
st minute,
Evan Dick worked the ball down the right side for Guelph. Once he got in to position, the Mississauga native sent a beautiful cross into the Carleton box where
Owen McKee, from ten yards out, was on the receiving end and guided it home inside the right post. McKee, who initially started the season on the bench had earned the trust of Head Coach
Keith Mason, and had seen his playing time increase throughout the second half of the year. And with one perfect touch of the ball, the forward from Ottawa paid back that trust, while sending the Gryphon Soccer Complex into a frenzy.
Although out-shot 5-3 in the first half by a dangerous Ravens team, it was the Gryphons who were able to create the late momentum and head into the break with a 1-0 lead.
Trying to find the balance of nursing the advantage but also staying on the attack for the second half, Guelph left every ounce of energy they had left on the pitch. Despite pressure from the Ravens throughout the second 45-minute session, between the Gryphon's heart and the tremendous play of their keeper, in the end Guelph was able to extinguish each Carleton opportunity, including the penalty kick in the dying seconds.
Coming into the match, the Gryphons had conceded a U SPORTS low three goals all season, and showed the Ravens first-hand why they lead the country in that statistic.
In the end, Artemenko made an astounding eight saves during the match to preserve the clean sheet, as the Gryphons were out-shot 11-3 (8-3 shots on target).
Guelph, the top seed in the 2021 OUA playoff bracket, has now earned the right to host the 2021 OUA Championship. Taking place on November 13, the Gryphons will welcome the York Lions to Alumni Stadium in a match for OUA glory. It will be the first time the Gryphons have hosted the conference championship since 1990 when they defeated the Toronto Varsity Blues 1-0. York will arrive in Guelph on the heels of a 3-2 extra time victory over the Ryerson Rams.
The OUA Championship match is scheduled for a 1:00pm kick-off with the winner not only claiming OUA gold but also a spot in the U SPORTS Championship.
