Gryphon lacrosse men to start playoffs at home Sunday
GUELPH – The Guelph Gryphons are to host the Laurier Golden Hawks to begin play in the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association’s Baggataway Cup playoffs Sunday.
The Gryphs claimed first place in the West Division with a 12-1 victory over the Laurentian Voyageurs at Sudbury Sunday.
The Gryphs led 5-0 at the end of the first quarter, 8-1 at halftime and 9-1 after the third quarter.
The score was the same score the Gryphs defeated the Voyageurs by at the Gryphon Soccer Complex Oct. 2.
Liam Aston had three goals and two assists for the Gryphs Sunday while Jabe Verbeek had two goals and three assists. Ben Doherty also scored twice while single goals were added by Trent Gilbert, Matthew Allen, Max McPherson, John Wheller and Parker Lock. Gilbert, Kyle Detweiler, Gavin Thibeault and Max van der Helm each had one assist.
Michael Holmes scored the lone goal for Laurentian while Josh Dikeos assisted on the goal.
Guelph outshot Laurentian 20-5. Jacob Hayne had four saves in goal for the Gryphs while Ryan Cassie had eight for the Voyageurs.
The Gryphs and Western Mustangs finished with identical 9-1 records, but Guelph won the tiebreaker as their win over the Mustangs Sept. 25 was by seven goals while Western edged the Gryphs by a single goal last Saturday.
Brock Badgers finished third in the division at 6-4 while the Toronto Varsity Blues were fourth at 5-5, McMaster Marauders fifth at 4-6, Laurier sixth at 2-8 and Laurentian seventh at 0-10.
Laurentian was the lone team in the division that did not qualify for the playoffs.
The Gryphs defeated the Golden Hawks twice during the regular season as they won their season opener 9-1 at Laurier Sept. 11 and prevailed 12-3 at the Gryphon Soccer Complex Oct. 7.
Sunday’s game is to start at 1 p.m.
If the Gryphs win that game, they’ll gain a bye into the semifinals of the Baggataway Cup championship tournament at Trent University in Peterborough Nov. 4 to 7.
- Guelph Sports Journal