Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The No. 7 ranked Lancer Men's Hockey team closed out the first half of their season with a series split with the visiting Guelph Gryphons this weekend at Windsor Arena.

The Lancers defeated the Gryphons 5-2 on Saturday night, after dropping a 3-2 decision to the visiting team on Friday night.

Windsor heads into the New Year with a 12-4-0 record and are tied for first in the OUA West with Western.

Lancer goaltender Matt Murphy was solid in net on Saturday night making 24 saves, while Drew Palmer and Brett Vandehogen hed the Lancer offense with a goal and an assist each.

Windsor scored two quick goals midway through the first period to take a 2-0 lead. Senior forward Brett Oliphant put the Lancers on the board with a nice power play goal at 10:56, and was followed by an unassisted goal Myles McCauley just 0:48 seconds later at 11:44.

Guelph's Andrew Bathgate scored his first of two goals at 16:28 to bring the Gryphons within one. The Windsor offense didnt' let up as Palmer put the Lancers back up by two less than a minute later to give Windsor a 3-1 lead heading into the second period.

Evan Stibbard scored the lone goal of the middle period with the Lancers in the penalty box for a 4-1 lead. Bathgate and Vandehogen scored in the third to round out the scoring and give Windsor the 5-2 win.

In Friday night's loss, the Lancers dominated the first period out shooting the Gryphons 13-9 and held a 2-1 lead at the end of the period. Christian Steingraber and Evan Stibbard scored for the Lancers, while Guelph's goal came from Matthew Lyall.

Guelph kept the Lancers in check during the second period, out shooting the Lancers 19-6. Cameron Odam scored at 11:05 to tie the game heading into the final period.

In the third, it was an even match between the two teams. However, Guelph pulled ahead with a late goal from Philip Teri to take the lead and the win.

Windsor will now break for the Christmas holidays and return to OUA action on Friday January 4th against the UOIT Ridgebacks in Oshawa.