Box Score LONDON, Ont. - Coming off of an undefeated weekend to start the OUA regular season the Western Mustangs men’s hockey team looked to continue their momentum Wednesday night against the Guelph Gryphons. Despite getting out to a 1-0 lead just over a minute into the game the Mustangs fell to the Gryphons by a 4-2 score.
 
The Mustangs controlled the play at times, out shooting the Gryphons 40-30 and earning the majority of the scoring chances, but were unable to capitialize on a few key opportunities.
 
“We had 40 shots on net, we hit three goal posts, we had a goal called back. We deserved better than that but those games are going to happen every once and a while. Maybe we didn’t deserve as good as we did on Saturday and we won so they even out,” said Western head coach Patrick Powers following the game.
 
Rookie defenceman David Corrente continued his strong play from last week, scoring the Mustangs first goal to give him two on the young season. Powers has been pleased with the young defender’s play so far in the 2012-13 campaign.
 
“He’s a guy that’s come in and worked hard, he’s done what we’ve asked him to do and he’s been rewarded for it so that’s good to see,” said Powers.
 
Zach Harnden, last season’s CIS Rookie of the Year, followed up on his three goal performance in the season opener against Waterloo with another goal on Wednesday night to put him in second place in the OUA with four on the year.
 
The Gryphons were led by goaltender Andrew Loverock who stopped 38 shots to give Guelph their first win on the year. The team spread the scoring around with four different Gryphons each recording a goal while forwards Cale Jeffries, Michael Charbonneau, and Andrew Bathgate all contributed two assists.
 
Corrente opened the scoring for Western only 1:12 into the game, however the lead was short lived as Guelph’s Jordan Mock fired back just over two minutes later to tie things up at one. Neither team was able to gain much of an advantage for the majority of the first period, with the two teams trading rushes for long stretches of play.
 
Guelph broke the stalemate with just under seven minutes remaining in the period as Cameron Odam fired a booming shot from the point giving Guelph a one-goal edge. The Gryphons would add another goal with only 19 seconds remaining in the period as Justin Gvora found the net behind Western goaltender Josh Unice to make it 3-1 after the first 20 minutes.
 
The Mustangs appeared to close the gap early in the third period however Loverock made a phenomenal glove save to keep the puck just on the other side of the goal line. Just over a minute later Matthew Lyall would take a pass from Bathgate and fire a slap shot over Unice’s shoulder to make it 4-1 Guelph.
 
Western would come out of the gate strong in the third period, with Harnden slipping a shot along the ice to pull the Mustangs within two just under four minutes into the period.
 
The Gryphons were able to hold off the Western attack throughout the period with Loverock stopping 16 shots in the frame. Western appeared to score their third goal with only 2:40 remaining in the period, however the goal was immediately waved off by the referee ruling that the puck was batted in with a high stick, giving Guelph the 4-2 win.
 
Next up for the Mustangs is their first matchup of the year with the Windsor Lancers on Saturday night at Thompson Arena. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. and will be streamed live on Mustangs TV.