The University of Toronto Varsity Blues soccer teams defeated the RMC Paladins on Sunday, Saturday 28 at Varsity Centre. Niko Pesa (Burlington, Ont.) and Alex Raphael (Toronto, Ont.) scored two goals each as the men’s soccer team came away with a 4-0 victory, while Juliana Bergin (Barrie, Ont.) and Briony DeMott (Victoria, B.C.) both notched two of their own to help the women to a 6-0 win.

The Varsity Blues men’s squad got off to a slow start until Fanny Bay B.C. native Dylan Bams sparked the offence with some fancy footwork and a pass to striker Nordo Gooden (Kingston, JAM) who sent the ball just wide of the net.

This allowed the Blues to turn up the heat as Yannis Gianniotis (Toronto, Ont.) sent a beautiful pass over the heads of the RMC defenders to Niko Pesa (Burlington, Ont.) who put one away for the Blues in the 41st minute of the game.

Just two minutes later, Pesa notched his second goal of the game off a Gooden pass to put the Blues up 2-0 at the half.

Toronto continued to press offensively early in the second half, minimizing any chances that the RMC squad was able to produce. Raphael potted his first of the game with a beautiful shot that beat RMC goalkeeper Arsalan Munir (Toronto, Ont.).

In the 85th minute, Pesa connected with Raphael, who scored again for the Blues, securing the 4-0 victory over the Paladins.

In women’s action, Toronto continued to dominate in OUA play with a 6-0 victory over RMC. Nav Deol (Mississauga, Ont.) opened up the scoring early for the Blues, beating Paladins goalkeeper Erica Pessotto (Milton, Ont.) in the fourth minute of the game.

Briony DeMott (Victoria, B.C.) added the Blues second goal off a booming shot from the corner that hit the post and went in. Toronto led 2-0 at the half.

The Blues continued to display their offensive control in the second half as first-year striker Bergin tallied back-to-back goals in the 48th and 51st minutes.

DeMott added her second of the game when she took a pass from Jennifer Siu (London, Ont.) in the 60th minute of the match. Just two minutes later, Siu would notch one of her own, as the Blues came away with a convincing 6-0 win.

The Varsity Blues travel to North Bay next Saturday, October 4, to take on the Nipissing Lakers. The men’s action gets underway at 12:00 p.m., with the women to follow at 2:15 p.m.