Gryphon lacrosse men hand Western first setback
GUELPH – The Guelph Gryphons started their final game of the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association regular season with five consecutive goals that started the locals on the way to a 13-6 victory over the Western Mustangs.
The Gryphs led 5-1 at the end of the first quarter Sunday at the Gryphon Soccer Complex, 8-2 at halftime and 12-2 after the third quarter.
Robbie Baxter fired home six goals while Gavin Thibeault had a hat trick. Nicholas Volkov added two goals while single goals were netted by Liam Aston and Owen Kelly. Volkov and Aston each had two assists while single assists were awarded to Baxter, Thibeault, Kelly, Matt Allen and Liam Dietsch.
Will Carnduff scored twice for Western while Chris da Silva, Calder Adams, Connor Murphy and Scott Burley also scored. Chris Dong had two assists and Jacob Hickey and Marc Smorenburg had one apiece.
The Gryphs outshot the Mustangs 21-13.
Jacob Hayne was in net for the Gryphs while Fischer Stoltz and Michael Orlando split time in the Western net.
The loss was the first of the season for Western while the Gryphs secure a second-place finish in the West Division at 8-2. They trail only the Mustangs who are at 9-1. Brock Badgers are third at 7-3 and they’re followed by the Laurier Golden Hawks and McMaster Marauders, both at 6-4, Nipissing Lakers at 3-7, Toronto Varsity Blues at 1-9 and Laurentian Voyageurs at 0-10.
The Gryphs are to play a Baggataway Cup play-in game Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Gryphon Soccer Club.
The league championship Baggataway Cup tournament is to be played in Peterborough at Trent University’s Justin Chiu Stadium Nov. 3 to 5.
- Guelph Sports Journal