GUELPH, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphons women's soccer team is through to the OUA semifinal round for the second consecutive season, following a 1-0 victory over the Laurier Golden Hawks on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 18) in an OUA quarterfinal matchup at the Gryphon Soccer Complex.
 
Gryphons forward and team captain Olivia Rizakos scored the lone goal of the match in the second half from the penalty spot. Guelph earned the opportunity to take the lead from the spot following a foul inside the Laurier box as the psychology major stepped up to the spot and sent Laurier goalie Mya Brodrecht the wrong way, calmly tucking her penalty low and away in the right corner of the net to give her side the 1-0 lead in the 53^rd minute. The Gryphons would lock in the rest of the match in a physical matchup between these two rivals following their last meeting 8 days ago as the hosts would make their one goal advantage stand in the victory. The match winner from Olivia Rizakos continues her tremendous season, where she finished in 2^nd in the OUA in goals, scoring 12 goals in 12 games. Sabrina Spano in the Gryphon net made two saves en route to a clean sheet.
 
The playoff win for the Gryphons on Saturday afternoon sends them to the OUA semifinal stage for a second straight season. Guelph as the No. 1-seed in the OUA West division, has earned the right to host a semifinal match next Saturday (Oct. 24) when they face the winner of the Nipissing Lakers and Queen's Gaels quarterfinal match scheduled for Sunday afternoon (Oct. 19). Kickoff for next Saturday's semifinal match is scheduled for 1pm from the Gryphon Soccer Complex.
 
On the other side of the bracket, the McMaster Marauders and Western Mustangs will meet in the other quarterfinal with the winner heading to Toronto to take on the No. 1-seed in the OUA East Varsity Blues who have booked their spot in the semifinals after knocking off the Ottawa Gee-Gees.