GUELPH, Ont. - The 2023 season officially came to an end on Wednesday evening in Guelph for the Gryphons men's soccer team, with the Western Mustangs edging the Gryphons 2-1 in extra time in opening round playoff action of the 2023 OUA men's soccer postseason. With the match level at 1-1 after 90 minutes, two 15-minute halves of extra time were required at the Gryphon Soccer Complex to determine who would be moving on to the OUA quarterfinal stage. In the 98th minute, the visiting Western Mustangs would take the lead for the second time on the night, with third-year midfielder Fayo Adeyemo scoring the match-winning goal. The Gryphons, who fought back earlier in the match with an equalizing goal from
Dante Ruddock back in the 33rd minute, were unable to find the equalizer a second time around, with Western holding on to the 2-1 lead to escape Guelph with a hard-fought victory. With the win, the Mustangs earn a trip to York Univeristy on Saturday (October 28) to face the Lions in a conference quarterfinal. The Gryphons meanwhile, who earned the No. 4-seed in the OUA West division after a successful regular season campaign in which they posted a 7-4-1 (wins-losses-draws) record, see their 2023 season come to a close.
