The Varsity Blues men’s soccer team came away with a 3-1 win over the Laurentian Voyageurs on Friday, October 8 at Varsity Centre.

With the win, the Blues improve to a 5-1-3 record and sit in third place in the OUA East division, one point behind the Ottawa Gee-Gees.

Alex Raphael of East York, Ont., got U of T on the board when he was awarded a penalty kick in the 18th minute. The fourth-year striker made no mistake, sending the ball past Voyageurs goalkeeper David Szczepaniak (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) into the top of the net.

Both teams exchanged scoring opportunities over the next 10 minutes as Blues striker Nordo Gooden of Kingston, Jamaica headed a ball to hit the post and Voyageurs Dieri Drame of Sudbury, Ont., returned the favour seven minutes later with a hard header that sailed over the cross bar.

Gooden would capitalize on his next chance though, kicking the ball through a scramble in the 34th minute to give the Blues a two-goal lead that they would carry into the half.

Laurentian’s Daniel O’Connor of Ajax, Ont., spoiled the shut out a few minutes into the second half when he received a cross pass from James Bond (Hamilton, Ont.) and sent the ball into far right side of the net.

U of T continued to hold the upperhand throughout the rest of the half and rookie midfielder Ezequiel Lubocki of Winnipeg added some insurance when he potted his first career goal in the 77th minute.

Szczepaniak came up with a few big saves for the Voyageurs in the final 10 minutes of the contest to keep the game within two at the final whistle.

The Varsity Blues return to action tomorrow when they host the Nipissing Lakers at Varsity Centre. Game time is scheduled for 2:15 p.m.

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