February 21, 2010
GRYPHONS BLANK VARSITY BLUES IN OUA WOMEN'S HOCKEY QUARTER-FINAL
GUELPH, Ont. - Jacky Sollis (West Vancouver, B.C.) scored the lone goal as Guelph defeated the Toronto Varsity Blues 1-0 in the OUA women's hockey playoffs on Saturday afternoon at the Gryphon Centre.
Guelph clearly showed that they had something to prove to the Varsity Blues after taking the 4-1 loss to Toronto last week. Controlling possession for the majority o the game, Guelph was able to pull off the 1-0 shutout victory over the Varsity Blues.
The only goal of the game was scored Gryphon defender Jacky Sollis (West Vancouver, B.C.), with Jessica Zerafa (Mississauga, Ont.) and Tayne Hewer (Barrie, Ont.) picking up the assists. Danielle Skoufranis (Thornhill, Ont.) continued her role as the recent starter for the Gryphons with another outstanding performance, stopping all 18 of Toronto's shots, picking up the shutout and the win.
With the win Guelph advances to the OUA semifinals to face the No. 7 nationally-ranked Queen's Gaels (19-5-3) in a best-of-three series, taking place this week. The Gaels finished the season second in the OUA behind Laurier and received a bye through the first round of playoffs.
The Gryphons were the first on the board, netting a goal less than five minutes into the first period. After a scrum along the boards, Hewer circled behind the net and fed the puck to Sollis on the point. Sollis wound up at the blue line and, with a beautiful screen in front by Zerafa, slapped the puck along the ice and under the pad of the Blues netminder, Kendyl Valenta. The score would remain 1-0 at the end of 20 minutes.
Guelph continued their domination in the second period, outshooting Toronto 15-6 in the frame. Unfortunately for the Gryphons, Valenta was at the top of her game this afternoon, turning aside all of Guelph's chances. Even with a two-man advantage, the Gryphons were unable to find the back of the net, keeping the margin of difference locked at one.
Valenta wasn't the only goaltender who showed up today though. Skoufranis, standing at only 5-foot-3, was a huge presence between the Gryphon posts, putting on an unbelievable performance in the second period while the Varsity Blues played a minute and a half of 5-on-3 hockey.
After two periods the scored remained 1-0 in favour of the Gryphons, but the game was far from over. After being overpowered in the first two periods, Toronto finally picked up their game for the third and worked a little more patiently in the Gryphon zone. With just over three minutes left in the game, Guelph took a penalty, putting themselves in an uncomfortable situation with only a one-goal lead.
On the power play the Blues would get their best opportunity of the game. Stopping a Toronto shot, Skoufranis found herself on the ice while the puck was on the blade of Blues defender. The shot from the point was deflected wide to another Toronto skater who had an open-net chance, but by failing to raise the puck off the ice, the Blues forward gave Skoufranis the opportunity to stretch out across the net and shut the door to hold the lead.
With the clock ticking down the last 10 seconds of the game, Gryphon fans started clanging their bells and blowing their horns and when the final buzzer went, the crowd erupted in support of the home team. The Gryphons held off the Varsity Blues for over 55 minutes, and pulled off the shutout win, 1-0.
Saturday's win puts the Gryphons through to the next round of the playoffs. The best-of-three series will start this Thursday at Queen's. Game 2 will take place in Guelph on Saturday at the Gryphon Centre. Game three if necessary will return to Kingston, Ont. on Sunday.
Source: Guelph Gryphons
Guelph clearly showed that they had something to prove to the Varsity Blues after taking the 4-1 loss to Toronto last week. Controlling possession for the majority o the game, Guelph was able to pull off the 1-0 shutout victory over the Varsity Blues.
The only goal of the game was scored Gryphon defender Jacky Sollis (West Vancouver, B.C.), with Jessica Zerafa (Mississauga, Ont.) and Tayne Hewer (Barrie, Ont.) picking up the assists. Danielle Skoufranis (Thornhill, Ont.) continued her role as the recent starter for the Gryphons with another outstanding performance, stopping all 18 of Toronto's shots, picking up the shutout and the win.
With the win Guelph advances to the OUA semifinals to face the No. 7 nationally-ranked Queen's Gaels (19-5-3) in a best-of-three series, taking place this week. The Gaels finished the season second in the OUA behind Laurier and received a bye through the first round of playoffs.
The Gryphons were the first on the board, netting a goal less than five minutes into the first period. After a scrum along the boards, Hewer circled behind the net and fed the puck to Sollis on the point. Sollis wound up at the blue line and, with a beautiful screen in front by Zerafa, slapped the puck along the ice and under the pad of the Blues netminder, Kendyl Valenta. The score would remain 1-0 at the end of 20 minutes.
Guelph continued their domination in the second period, outshooting Toronto 15-6 in the frame. Unfortunately for the Gryphons, Valenta was at the top of her game this afternoon, turning aside all of Guelph's chances. Even with a two-man advantage, the Gryphons were unable to find the back of the net, keeping the margin of difference locked at one.
Valenta wasn't the only goaltender who showed up today though. Skoufranis, standing at only 5-foot-3, was a huge presence between the Gryphon posts, putting on an unbelievable performance in the second period while the Varsity Blues played a minute and a half of 5-on-3 hockey.
After two periods the scored remained 1-0 in favour of the Gryphons, but the game was far from over. After being overpowered in the first two periods, Toronto finally picked up their game for the third and worked a little more patiently in the Gryphon zone. With just over three minutes left in the game, Guelph took a penalty, putting themselves in an uncomfortable situation with only a one-goal lead.
On the power play the Blues would get their best opportunity of the game. Stopping a Toronto shot, Skoufranis found herself on the ice while the puck was on the blade of Blues defender. The shot from the point was deflected wide to another Toronto skater who had an open-net chance, but by failing to raise the puck off the ice, the Blues forward gave Skoufranis the opportunity to stretch out across the net and shut the door to hold the lead.
With the clock ticking down the last 10 seconds of the game, Gryphon fans started clanging their bells and blowing their horns and when the final buzzer went, the crowd erupted in support of the home team. The Gryphons held off the Varsity Blues for over 55 minutes, and pulled off the shutout win, 1-0.
Saturday's win puts the Gryphons through to the next round of the playoffs. The best-of-three series will start this Thursday at Queen's. Game 2 will take place in Guelph on Saturday at the Gryphon Centre. Game three if necessary will return to Kingston, Ont. on Sunday.
Source: Guelph Gryphons
