GUELPH, Ont. – Playing in their second to last game of the regular season, the Western Mustangs fell 2-0 to the Guelph Gryphons on Thursday night at the Gryphon Soccer Complex.

With the loss, the purple and white move to 5-5-5 on the year and remain in fifth place in the OUA West Division, while the Gryphons improve to 11-2-2 and stay in second place behind the undefeated York Lions.

Both teams came out firing right from kickoff, with five total shot attempts between the two taking place within the first 10 minutes. The Gryphons generated more opportunities than the Mustangs in the first half, as they totalled six shots and six corner kicks to Western's four shots and two corners; however it was the final shot of the half that produced the first goal of the game.

Assisted by Tomasz Skublak, Guelph forward Jace Kotsopoulos scored in the last minute of the frame to give the Gryphons a 1-0 lead heading into the break.

Mustangs midfielder Parker Seymour tallied the first and only shot on target for his team early in the second half as Western continued to press for an equalizing goal while playing tighter defence, limiting their opponents to fewer chances than in the first half. The Gryphons, however, did not allow any goals and put the game out of reach with another late goal when Skublak hit the back of the net with under three minutes remaining.

Getting a fourth straight start for the Mustangs, goalkeeper Kody Thomson made two saves in the match, while his Gryphon counterpart Ben Caranci saved the only shot on goal he faced to preserve the clean sheet.

The Mustangs will play their final match of the regular season on Sunday, October 23, at 3:15 p.m. as they take on a tough opponent in CIS No. 1 York Lions in Toronto.