GUELPH, Ont.- Scoring your first career OUA goal in the dying moments of a match against the No. 8 nationally ranked team in the country to give your hometown team a big victory sounds like a great night, right? Well, that was the exciting scenario for Guelph Gryphon's rookie forward Olivia Brown Wednesday night at the Gryphon Soccer Complex as her late marker propelled the Gryphons to a 2-1 win over the No. 8 Western Mustangs.

Scoring in stoppage time of the second half, Brown's goal secured a big three points for the Gryphons as they improved their record to 2-0-1 through three matches.

"We've got a great belief in Olivia Brown," said Gryphon's Head Coach Shayne Campbell. "Sometimes in the game you feel like someone has one in their boots, and she just has such a great ability that when she has any type of chance she is able to find the target. That's what we were hoping for and in this particular instance it worked well and she really took her moment well."

Just like in their previous outing on Sunday when they were able to jump out in front quickly, the Gryphons successfully got on the scoresheet in the early stages again on Wednesday. It was only the 11^th minute of the contest when Olivia Rizakos continued her hot start to the season scoring her 4^th goal of the 2021 campaign.

"Anytime you can get up early in the game you begin to feel settled and it helps get you into a rhythm." Campbell said. "It's one of the things we have talked about, and not always does it work out, but it worked for us today."

Although the Gryphons were able to hold much of the possession throughout the first half, the Mustangs were able to find the equalizer before the break.

With the ball in their own box, the Gryphons did their best to clear the ball, however, the clearing attempt went right onto the boot of Reese Fowler, who struck the ball beyond the reach of a fully extended Brooke Davidson.

Throughout the second half, Guelph continued to tilt the field towards Western's end but were unable to find the go-ahead goal. On the defensive side, the Gryphons did a nice job of clearing Western's opportunities as they tried to build up the field. The Mustangs did earn a couple of set pieces and corner kicks in the second half, but the Gryphon's defence continued to hold strong.

Then as the end of the match approached and a draw seemed inevitable, it was Brown's time to shine. Seeing the ball get played into the box, the Guelph product quickly scrambled to pick up the loose ball before firing it into the back of the net.

"The effort and determination that the girls showed tonight is exactly what we asked for," said Campbell. "Western never gives you an inch so we knew we had to push hard and be at our best."