The Lancer men's soccer team earned two hard-fought draws against the Guelph Gryphons to open their 2025 regular season.
 
In the season opener in Guelph on Friday, the two teams battled to a scoreless draw, while Sunday was a spirited affair that ended in a 3-3 tie.
 
FRIDAY
The game was a physical affair, which featured six yellow cards, and saw neither team able to crack the opposing defences to get on the scoresheet to start the 2025 OUA men's soccer regular season. Lancer goaltender Nicholas Zanin earned the clean sheet for the Lancers in net.
 
SUNDAY
Game two of the home-and-home series was another heated affair, with another six yellow cards – all in the second half.
 
The Lancers got on the board first when the Gryphons accidentally scored on their own net. Windsor forward Ottavio Liburdi was credited with the goal. The Gryphons made up for the error very quickly, tying the game at one just a few minutes later off of a penalty kick.
 
The Gryphons went on to score two more goals in the last ten minutes of the half to take a 3-1 lead heading into halftime.
 
The fun began following the break, as tensions rose and the game became more physical. The visitors earned themselves five yellow cards in the half, while the Lancers only had one.
 
In the 78th minute, Michael Nepsy's landed a beautiful header into the net to make it a one goal game. The blue and gold applied pressure and after Guelph's Nicolas Alfieri received his second yellow of the game, the Gryphons played down a man in extra time, opening the window for the Lancers.
 
With a minute remaining in extras, Matthew Chimienti accepted a beautiful pass from Sebastian Piatiewicz to tie the game, and earn the blue and gold their second point of the weekend.
 
UP NEXT
The Lancers will host the Waterloo Warriors on Friday, September 5th at 8:15pm at Alumni Stadium. Tickets for the game can be purchased in advance at goLancers.ca/tickets.