Today, the Western Mustangs men's soccer team took on the Guelph Gryphons and lost 2-0.

Captain Andrew Walton was back from his absence last game with a new haircut and something to prove, a vendetta to make up for a game lost. Dan Cameira flicked balls onto his teammates, yet remained the height of field fashion, today, wearing delicate blue gloves.

Seven minutes into the game Western’s Christian Douglas and Pat Mroczek were able to fire a shot onto the Gryphons' net, but was just over the crossbar. Guelph’s goaltender, Chad Paparoni, appeared slightly hesitant to come out and challenge for the ball.

Western Goalie Ivan Skoko did a great job of challenging Guelph as they forayed into the Western eighteen.

Twenty minutes into the game Western was dominating Guelph’s defensive end, but in a lucky break at 21 minutes Jared Agyemang scored Guelph’s first goal.

At 27 minutes rookie Stevie Ray Reid hit a firm ball up the right wing, which was flicked on by Pat Mroczek, and through to Christian Douglas. It looked as though all of the moving parts were coming together for Western, but what would have been a great play was foiled by an offside decision.

At 28 minutes Western’s Eric Amato managed to fire a shot on net. The ball however was carried by the wind and sailed just high. Amato tried to make a little magic with his fancy footwork, but he was unable to craft some of his signature “out of nowhere” goals as the Mustangs came up short today.

There was also a new addition to Western’s forward line. Vancouver native Brendan Catliff made his Mustang debut and not a moment too soon. His father John Catliff, former Canadian Soccer League star, was in town. With big cleats to fill, Brendan played a determined game and challenged for his chance to shine. John Catliff beamed with pride under the guise of his Harvard soccer cap and watched son, Brendan Catliff, flick ball after ball toward the net. “I was proud to see my son play for Western and I look forward to seeing him play here for many years," said John Catliff.

Forty minutes in, Skoko hit the ground leaving the net exposed, Stevie Ray Reid came to the rescue with cool cat style, lobbing the ball into the corner. 

At the end of the first half Guelph led 1-0.

The second half sent Western’s Rudy James on many runs up the left wing, the Trinidadian soccer sensation propelling towards the ball, but Gryphons' defense was avid in their denial of a cross into the Guelph eighteen.  

The rain pouring down, the benched players took cover in the media booth, pressed up against the windows, willing the Mustangs to at least tie it up, 1-1. Alas, Western’s attempts in Guelph’s box were as sporadic as the rain. They were unable to finish on a number of crosses into the box.  

At 83 minutes, Jared Agyemang scored Guelph’s second goal after his teammate picked off an errant defensive clearance and fed him the ball.

Next week the men’s team will play Brock at Western’s TD Waterhouse Stadium at 8:15pm on Wednesday September 26^th.