GUELPH, Ont. – Soccer is finally coming home as September 22 marks the official start of the season for the Guelph Gryphons men's soccer team as they travel to Windsor to take on the Lancers in the opening match of the 2021 OUA men's soccer regular season.
The last time the Gryphons men's soccer team was on the pitch for an OUA game was on November 2, 2019 when the Gryphons defeated the University of Toronto Varsity Blues 1-0 to claim OUA bronze.
The 2021 version of the Gryphons will look quite different, with a slew of turnover at the defensive and offensive ends of the field, as well as an exciting incoming pool of young and talented rookies set to join the squad.
Headlining the list of returning players for the Gryphons in 2021 is star midfielder,
Alexander Zis. The fifth-year marketing management major has already established himself as one of the top players in the entire country, earning OUA West MVP honours during an unforgettable 2019 season in which he also earned the title of U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian. With Zis back for his senior season, the Gryphons have arguable the best play-maker and set-piece specialists in all of U SPORTS soccer. Zis has also garnered plenty of attention in the pro ranks, with the Oakville native selected 8th overall in the 2021 Canadian Premier League draft by Hamilton-based franchise, Forge F.C.
Also included in the list of outstanding returning veterans is fifth-year forward Mitch Lefebvre, while veteran defender
Ian Vidovich leads the back line while wearing the captain's band.
Lucas Doros (fifth-year midfielder),
Evan Dick (fifth-year forward), and
Jack Sears (third-year midfielder) bring experience and proven talent to the Gryphons starting 11, who will once again matchup well man-for-man against the top programs across the OUA.
The list of new additions to the Gryphons men's soccer program is led by
Colin Gander, an economics major from Kitchener who projects to have an immediate impact for the Gryphons at fullback.
Harvey Marchant (midfielder from Fleet, England) and Ryan Ko (defender from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) are also key pieces of a strong 2021 recruiting class for the Gryphons. Replacing goalkeeper
Erik Hermanns is Svyatik Artemenko, a prospect from Guelph United F.C where he boasts a 6-0 record, of which 4 wins are clean sheets. Gray Yates will join the squad as a first-year midfielder, becoming the first Guelph local on the team in since Ethan Danielli's departure in 2016.
Following the team's season-opener on Wednesday night (Sept. 22) in Windsor, the Gryphons will return home on Sunday Sept. 26 for a 4pm matchup with the Lancers.
The Gryphons will play a reduced 10-game regular season schedule this season (down from a 14-game regular season schedule back in 2019), with the OUA playoffs set to get underway on November 3. The U SPORTS men's soccer season will culminate in the nation's capital, with Carleton set to host nationals November 18-21 at MNP Park.
Quote from Key Player:
"I'm very excited for this upcoming season. With COVID not allowing any competitive sports in the past two years the whole team is buzzing to get back on the pitch and play together. The atmosphere since coming back to training has been great and we can't wait to work hard and hopefully bring home an OUA title for the gryphons." ⁓
Jack Sears (3rd-year midfielder)
Quote from head coach Keith Mason:
"We are all so excited to be back in the Gryphons uniform and be back home. We've got a good exciting young team and are looking forward to what 2021 brings forward. After such a negative impact of the last 18 months it's great to have a positive again."
KEY ADDITONS
Colin Gander (D from Kitchener, ON, Toronto F.C. Defender)
Harvey Marchant (MF from Fleet, England, Guelph United F.C.)
Svyatik Artemenko (1
st-year GK from Winnipeg, MB, roster goalkeeper in the CPL for Valour F.C)
Gray Yates (1
st-year MF, from Guelph, ON)
Ryan Ko (1
st-year D, from Saskatoon, SK)
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
Ian Vidovich (5
th- year D, OUA All-Star 1st Team West Division)
Mitch Lefebvre (5
th-year S)
Alexander Zis (5
th-year M, 2019-20 UofG M.V.P., 2019-20 U SPORTS All-Canadians 1
st Team)
Evan Dick (5
th-year F, Guelph United F.C.)
Lucas Doros (5
th-year MF, Guelph United F.C.)
Jack Sears (3
rd-year MF, Guelph United F.C.)
KEY LOSSES
Luke Rankin
Eric Handman
Johnson Amoo
Jace Kotsopoulos
