Saturday, Sept. 1
Guelph 3, Waterloo 0
Game Summary

The Warrior men's soccer team opened up their season with a 3-0 loss to the home side Guelph Gryphons on Saturday afternoon. 

The game was very evenly matched from the beginning with both teams creating excellent opportunities in a split-possession half.  Many of Guelph's chances were created by excellent crosses coming from Jared Agyemang (Brampton, ON), Tim Flynn (Scarborough, ON), Paul Manchisi (Oakville, ON) and Drew Gowan (Welland, ON), with Waterloo largely relying on straightforward attacks and corner kicks.  

Both goalkeepers Chad Paparoni of the Gryphons and Hansel Paico-Avilez (Oakville/) of the Warriors were great at preventing many of these opportunities from amounting to anything.  Yet despite the strong Waterloo defence, Flynn was able to capitalize on Warrior miscommunication by scoring the first goal of the season in the 14th minute.
 
With great play calling and organization coming from second year keeper, Paparoni, the Gryphons were able to establish a strong defensive front for the remainder of the first half.  To cap the half off, former CIS Player of the Year Robbie Murphy (Guelph, ON) scored on a corner kick from Flynn in the 45^th minute of the half to send the Gryphons into halftime with a solid lead.
 
Maintaining their forward momentum, the Gryphons came out strong in the second half with Agyemang capitalizing on a beautiful cross from Drew Gowan (Welland, ON) in the 53^rd to put the Gryphons up 3-0. 
 
For the remainder of the game the Gryphons were able to erect an impenetrable defensive front with defensemen Jacob Stolle (Ottawa), Paul Manchisi (Oakville, ON) and rookie Justin Springer (Burlington, ON) contributing to the inevitable shutout.
 
The Warriors look to reverse their fortune on Sunday with an afternoon match up against the perennial powerhouse York Lions.

Sunday, Sept. 2
York 1, Waterloo 0
Game Summary

The Warriors put forth a determined effort on Sunday against a very tough York Lions squad on Sunday coming up short in a 1-0 loss.  York improved to 2-0-0 with the win while Waterloo dropped their second straight to open the season.

The Lions opened the scoring in the 22^nd minute. Adrian Pena, of Woodbridge, Ont., scored shooting low and left on a penalty kick after Lion Charlie Trafford (Calgary) was fouled in the box.

Pena very nearly scored again only five minutes later from a free kick outside the box, but Waterloo goalkeeper Adam Weller (Keswick/), of Keswick, Ont., made an incredible leaping save.

The Lions closed out the first half on a strong note, posting a strong shot off a cross pass and drawing several fouls in the final minutes of the half.

York nearly scored a second goal in the seventy third minute, after a combined passing effort from Pena and Martino Belligiero of Toronto leaving Trafford with a wide-open net, but struck the crossbar with his kick.

In what was a predominantly defensive game played mostly in the midfield, the Warriors offense struggled for opportunities despite improving in the second half. The Warriors strongest scoring opportunity came in the 85^th minute with Robbie Frank (Kitchener/) narrowly missing a header just wide of the right post.

York goalkeeper Sotiri Varlokostas of Toronto was able to save every shot against him earning his second shutout of the season.

The Warriors return to their home field on Wednesday as they welcome McMaster to Warrior Field for an afternoon match up in search of their first win.