The University of Toronto Varsity Blues soccer teams went undefeated in OUA action this weekend. The No. 7 Blues men’s team scraped by with a 1-0 victory over the No. 2 Carleton Ravens while the Blues women’s team trounced the No. 7 Ravens 4-0 on Sunday, September 21 at Varsity Centre.
The men’s game proved to be a back-and-forth battle, with both squads producing quality scoring chances. Defence was a key asset as the first half remained scoreless.
The Blues came out on fire in the second half, itching for that elusive first goal. Things were looking grim until Blues rookie sensation Dylan Bams (Fanny Bay, B.C.) drove through three Ravens defenders and slipped one past goalkeeper Arjun Langford (Oakville, Ont.) to put the Blues up 1-0 in the 88th minute of the match.
Blues first-year goalkeeper John Smits (Mississauga, Ont.) stepped up and earned the shut out for his squad.
The Blues victory ends the Raven’s OUA East regular season 31-game winning streak.
In women’s action, the Blues got on board quickly as Jenessa Banwell (Toronto, Ont.) took a centering pass from Jennifer Siu (London, Ont.) and beat Ravens goalkeeper Kate Shaughnessy (Ottawa, Ont.) in the first minute of the match.
Erica Basso (Richmond Hill, Ont.) tallied the next goal for the Blues off a pass from fifth-year veteran Lindsay Lashley (Ottawa, Ont.) to put the Blues up 2-0 at the half.
Carleton rallied in the second half, but could not put one past Toronto goalkeeper Mary Anne Barnes (Scarborough, Ont.). In the 74th minute, Siu took advantage of being wide open and sent a booming shot into the Ravens net.
Juliana Bergin (Barrie, Ont.) scored in the 87th minute off a beautiful cross from Siu, securing the 4-0 victory of the Blues. Siu tallied one goal and two assists in the win.
On Saturday, the Varsity Blues men's and women’s soccer team travelled to Peterborough, Ont. to face the Trent Excalibur. The women came away with a 5-0 victory, while the men drew to a 0-0 tie.
Nav Deol (Mississauga, Ont.) scored first for the Blues women's soccer team, heading a corner kick from Banwell straight into the Trent net. Laura Machado (Mississauga, Ont.) notched the next goal off a cross pass from Christina Fantozzi (Richmond Hill, Ont.) giving the Blues a 2-0 lead at the half.
Jackie Miklovich (Aurora, Ont.) fed Shirley Ho (Calgary, Alta.) for the Blues third goal of the game, while Laura Arduini (Mississauga, Ont.) scored on a penalty kick midway through the second half. Gwen Kern (Aurora, Ont.) rounded out the 5-0 victory for Toronto.
In men's action, Toronto and Trent drew to a 0-0 tie. Although the Blues recorded numerous shots on net, they could not find a way past Excalibur goalkeeper Navi Sidhu (Peterborough, Ont.).
The Varsity Blues soccer teams return to action next weekend (Sept. 27-28) when they take on the Trent Excalibur on Saturday and the RMC Rams on Sunday at Varsity Centre. On both days, the men kick off at 1 p.m., with the women to follow at 3:15 p.m.
