GUELPH, Ont. – The Gryphon women's hockey team dropped the puck on their 2022-23 season Thursday night in their regular season home opener. The Gryphons played host to the U SPORTS Top 10, No. 10-ranked Waterloo Warriors at the Gryphon Centre, falling 6-1.
 
Returning to the Gryphon Centre for the first time since March 12^th, the Gryphons showed plenty of life but were unable to overcome penalty troubles, finding themselves shorthanded for 10 minutes Thursday night.
 
The Gryphons found themselves on the back foot early in the opening period, following a penalty in the opening two minutes. After a strong penalty kill the Gryphons were unable to build momentum, with the Warriors opening the scoring 9:51 into the first frame following a goal from Kassidy McCarthy. While the score was not in the Gryphons favour, it did not reflect their battle in the first period. The Gryphs would kill off three penalties before heading into the first intermission down 2-0 to the Warriors.
 
Coming out of the locker room for the middle frame, the Gryphons would continue to fight and compete. With the Warriors continuing to win the possession game it would be 2021 OUA West All-Rookie team member and goaltender Martina Fedel who would continue to keep the Gryphons in the game. Fedel would stop a streaking Warrior coming across the net with a stretched-out glove save to keep the Gryphons within two. Fedel would finish the period with 9 saves and the game with 21. Five minutes into the period the Gryphons would be on the wrong end of a bad bounce, as a deflected shot would find its way into the back of the net putting the Gryphons down three. Another Waterloo goal late in the period would send the Gryphs into the second intermission down 4-0.
 
With a big task ahead of them for the final 20 minutes of their home opener, the Gryphons came out with a purpose. Looking to generate their first goal of the game, Guelph would be slowed down by a pair of penalties. Although the Gryphons were able to hold the Warriors off the scoresheet at 4-on-5 the momentum would carry back into even strength for the Warriors, and with seven minutes remaining they would extend their lead to 5-0 and then 6-0 a few minutes later. With 2:30 remaining Hannah Tait would freeze Waterloo goaltender Mikayla Schnarr on a deke and score on the forehand to break the Warrior shutout and leave the ice as the Gryphons lone goal scorer.
 
The Gryphons will look to bounce back when they return to the ice on Saturday (Oct. 22) in St. Catharines to take on the Brock Badgers. Puck drop is scheduled for 4pm at Canada Games Park.