The Varsity Blues men’s soccer team defeated the host Ryerson Rams 2-0 Wednesday night at Lamport Stadium to open up the 2008 OUA season.

The Rams came close to opening the scoring just 18 minutes in when Vince D'Elia (Vaughan, Ont.) fired a shot just wide from 16 yards out. The Blues took a 1-0 lead just two minutes later when Niko Pesa's (Burlington, Ont.) header snuck past Ryerson keeper Anthony Volpe (Brampton, Ont.).

The Rams did have their chances in the first half. Third-year striker Moses Kgasa (Gaborone, Botswana) made a move around Toronto keeper Luciano Lombardi (Scarborough, Ont) in the 31st minute but the ball rolled away from Kgasa before he could get the shot off. Kgasa created another opportunity in the 43rd minute by eluding a defender, however his shot went wide.

Toronto had a chance to take a 2-0 lead early in the second half off a corner kick. Volpe deflected the corner kick away and then made a huge stop on the rebound. The Blues eventually got their two-goal lead when Nordo Gooden (Toronto, Ont.) headed a crossing pass from Dustin Chung (Toronto, Ont.) past Volpe in the 75th minute.

The Blues (1-0-0) face the Laurentian Voyageurs on Saturday in their home opener and the Laurentian Lakers on Sunday at Varsity Centre.