With an impressive 11-1-2 record, the Varsity Blues men’s soccer team finished the regular season atop the OUA East division.

The Blues got off to a slow start in ‘09, going 0-2 at the Old Four tournament, hosted this year by the University of Western Ontario and starting season 1-1-1. However, Toronto would go on an impressive 11-game undefeated streak to climb their way to the top of the standings and earn a bye into the OUA quarter-final round.

Fourth-year striker Nordo Gooden led the OUA with eight goals in 14 games. Goalkeeper John Smits amassed a CIS-high 11 shutouts in regular season action.

After a dominating 4-0 quarter-final win over the Laurentian Voyageurs, the Blues topped the CIS poll at No. 1 and were set to host the 2009 OUA championship at Varsity Centre. The calibre of play was high and teams were equally matched as all four games on the weekend were decided by penalty kicks.

In an exciting semi-final match up with the Western Mustangs, Toronto came away with a 3-2 victory (5-4 in penalty kicks) to earn a spot in the OUA gold-medal match and a trip to Langley, B.C. for the 2009 CIS championship tournament.

Unfortunately, the Blues have to settle for silver as they fell 1-0 (5-4 in penalty kicks) to in the championship game.

Six members of the team were named league all-stars. Team captain Yannis Gianniotis, Alex Raphael and Dylan Bams were named OUA first team all-stars, while Gooden, Smits and Mario Nallira earned second team honours.

The Blues opened the CIS championship tournament with a 2-1 victory over the Victoria Vikes, before dropping a heartbreaking 3-0 decision to the Laval Rouge et Or in the semifinals.

In tough against the host Trinity Western Spartans, Toronto took the defending silver medalists to overtime, only to fall 2-1 (4-2 in penalty kicks) to place fourth.

Gianniotis was named a first team all-Canadian.