The No. 5 nationally-ranked York University Lions men's hockey team dropped its second decision of the season on Sunday night with a 4-1 loss to the Guelph Gryphons at Canlan Ice Sports.
 
Despite the defeat, the Lions remain atop the OUA West standings with a 7-2 record on the season. The Gryphons, who the Lions defeated in the OUA quarter-finals last year, improved to 4-3-1 with the win and are tied for fourth in the division.
 
It was actually the Lions who scored first, as Josh LaFrance netted his third of the season at 15:56 of the opening period for a 1-0 York lead. Scott Feser and Derek Sheppard earned assists on the play. However, the lead lasted only 29 seconds after Cody Thompson netted a goal for the Gryphons to make the score 1-1 after one period.
 
From there, Gryphons goaltender Jason Da Silva stood on his head to keep the puck out of his net for the remaining 40 minutes. He faced 43 shots total, including 19 in the second period and 11 in the third, but the Lions could not solve him.
 
At the other end of the rink, the Gryphons scored twice in the second period to open up a commanding 3-1 lead. Scott Simmonds scored at 5:16 of the frame and Patrick Kudla tallied a power play marker just over three minutes later.
 
Josh McFadden added an empty netter late in the third to round out the scoring.
 
York goaltender Alex Fotinos took the loss after allowing three goals on the 36 shots he faced.
 
After playing six of their first nine games at home, the Lions will now head out on the road for five of the next six, beginning with a trip to London, Ont., to face the Western Mustangs on Friday night at 7pm.