TORONTO, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphons women's soccer team in their bid for their second OUA title in program history, were narrowly edged out by the Toronto Varsity Blues 1-0 in the OUA Championship game on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 1) in a tightly contested, hard-fought loss.
 
The championship game pitted the OUA West division winner and the OUA East division winner with the Varsity Blues earning the right to host by finishing a point ahead of the Gryphons in the overall standing. Throughout the afternoon, the Gryphons and Varsity Blues were evenly matched with not a lot separating either side. Guelph applied the early pressure in the first half with a Cassidy Anderson header and an Elise Bell shot off an Olivia Rizakos corner. The Gryphs pressed late in the half with Ella Cahill creating chances, but were unable to beat Blues defence. Emilija Lucic and Anne Yeomans had late looks for Toronto as Sabrina Spano stopped them both, making two of her six saves on the day as the game remained scoreless after 45 minutes.

The second half was much of the same as it was a tight, defensive game throughout the game where a moment of brilliance would prove to be the difference. Unfortunately for the Gryphons, they'd be on the wrong side of it. In the 70^th minute, the corner from Emilija Lucic found the head of Hannah Chown as header from the OUA East MVP beat the diving Sabrina Spano and into the low corner of the net to give Toronto the 1-0 lead. The Gryphons would press for the equalizer but were unable to solve an organized Blues defence as Toronto held on for the win to claim their first OUA Championship in program history.

"They're a really strong team and they defended very well," said the OUA West Coach of the Year Shayne Campbell. "You always have to credit your opponent and they played a great game. I think Sabrina showed today how important her role has been. She made some big saves that kept things close and provided us an opportunity to win."
 
The Gryphons will turn their attention to next week's (Nov. 6-9) U SPORTS Women's Soccer Championship from Hamilton after qualifying last week in their semifinal victory over the Queen's Gaels. The Gryphons closes out their OUA season with a 9-1-2 regular season, earning the No. 1-seed in the OUA West division and winning a pair of home playoff games against Laurier and Queen's.