Box Score GUELPH, Ont.- Having played to a scoreless draw on the road Wednesday night against the Windsor Lancers, the Guelph Gryphon's offence made sure the same thing was not going to happen again Sunday afternoon at the Guelph Gryphons Soccer Complex. Playing host to those same Lancers, the Gryphons used three goals from Olivia Rizakos and one from Kate Knafelc as they cruised to a 4-1 win.
Although they were unable to find of the back of the net in the first 90 minutes of their season on Wednesday, it did not take very long to get on the board once the Gryphons got their second match underway, scoring in the 3rd minute of the contest.
"I thought that goal really helped us and really allowed us to settle in," said Gryphon's Head Coach Shayne Campbell. "That goal really allowed us to establish a rhythm and build up more of those chances."
The early goal wound up being the first of three in the contest for Rizakos, who was able to make her presence felt up front for the entire duration of the match.
As the first half progressed, both teams were able to build up a couple of chances, but neither side was able to convert. That was until the late stages of the half, when both teams found some success. In the 43rd minute, a beautiful ball played forward from deep in Guelph's own end wound up on the foot of Knafelc, who was then in all alone and made no mistake to put the Gryphons up by two.
However, less than a minute later, the Lancers mounted a response with a tremendous strike from Kailyn Robertson.
The two teams then hit the half time break with Guelph out in front 2-1.
For the Gryphons, it quickly became a point of emphasis not to allow the Lancer's goal right before the half to spoil how well they had played up until that point.
Creating numerous chances on offence, and not allowing Windsor to build much up at all, the Gryphons did a great job of making sure momentum stayed on their side as the second half began. All of the effort then paid off midway through the second half. Getting back in on the attack, it was Rizakos striking her second goal of the contest in the 76th minute, giving Guelph a bit of breathing room. She then sealed the three points for the Gryphs when she tacked on one more for good measure in stoppage time.
"We knew we had been doing really good things in the first half so let's make sure the first 15 minutes of the second half we don't allow them to gain any control, and we did that really well," Campbell said.
With the win, the Gryphons were able to secure four of a possible six points in their home-and-home with Windsor, and now will turn their attention to the Western Mustangs who they will host on Wednesday night at 6:00pm from the Gryphons Soccer Complex.
"Like all teams, everyone is working really hard to get back," Campbell said. "For us, we have put a lot of time and effort in to getting the squad prepared, and although there are things for us to keep building on and working on, I'm just really glad that today gave us a good look at what we can accomplish on the pitch."
