GUELPH, Ont. - The Guelph Gryphons men's soccer team hosted the Western Mustangs in their 2023 home opener on Sunday (Sept. 10) afternoon, playing to a scoreless 0-0 draw. The game served as the second match of the day celebrating former Gryphon soccer student-athletes for the U of G Soccer Alumni Day.
Coming into the match the Gryphons were looking to get back to an even record after dropping their season opener to Mustangs last weekend on Labour Day Monday in London. The first match of the season saw the Mustangs take a 2-1 victory and saw plenty of offence from both teams. Sunday's match was a different story, with quality scoring chances hard to come by and a defensive battle taking place.
The first half saw the Gryphons out-shoot the Mustangs 4-2 despite having less corner kick opportunities (GUE - 2, WES - 3) and more fouls (6 to 3). They second half was when things began getting more urgent for both teams, with the Gryphons and Mustangs realizing that a single score was good enough to leave with the win today. Four yellow cards were handed out as gaps in the field came few and far between and the physicality of play increased. A total of just three shots were registered with one corner kick. Guelph once again found themselves on the losing end of the foul battle, comitting six to the Mustangs five. As time began to run down the Gryphons turned up a gear, spending the majority of the final 15 minutes in Western territory but unable to find a crack in the Western defence and beat the goalkeeeper. The final whistle sounded and the two teams would both escape the day without a loss on the record.
The Gryphons (0-1-1) will head to Waterloo on Friday (Sept. 15) to take on the Waterloo Warriors, who enter the game with a 1-2-0 after suffering back-to-back losses to the York Lions and McMaster Marauders after a season-opening win. The team will then host the Warriors on Sunday (Sept. 17) at the Gryphon Soccer Complex, with that match set to get underway at 3:15pm following the conclusion of the women's game.
