Varsity Blues goalkeeper John Smits made two saves in penalty kicks to solidify a 2-1 (4-2 penalty kicks) victory over the Ryerson Rams in OUA men’s soccer quarter-finals on Sunday, October 29 at Varsity Centre.

Trailing 1-0 at halftime down a player after Blues leading scorer Mario Kovacevic was issued a red card, second-year midfielder Jesse Assing evened the score in the 65th minute off a throw-in, firing the ball past Rams goalkeeper Christian Maraldo.

Maraldo had to respond quickly, stopping a shot from Jermaine Burrell after the speedy forward zipped down the left side.
Neither team found the goal in the last 10 minutes and the game headed into overtime.

Both teams exchanged chances to score during the two 15-minute overtime period, with neither able to capitalize.

Smits would stop Ryerson’s first and fourth shooters, while Ezequiel Lubocki, James Greatorex and Michael Brathwaite scored for the Blues.  Third-year midfielder and Woodbridge, Ont., native Ryan Sciacchitano ended the game with a fourth goal, firing the ball past Maraldo to book Toronto’s ticket to the OUA Final Four hosted by Carleton next weekend (Nov. 5-6).

Toronto will take on the West’s top-seeded York Lions in semi-final action next Saturday in Ottawa.



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