Box Score The No. 5 University of Toronto Varsity Blues are once again off to the OUA Final Four after defeating the Carleton Ravens 2-1 Sunday afternoon (Oct. 30) at Varsity Stadium.

After surviving an early scare in the opening minutes with a Carleton goal called back due to an offside flag, the Blues tightened up defensively preventing any further chances through the remainder of the first half.

On the other side of the pitch, U of T nearly broke the early stalemate in the 35^th minute as captain Lukas MacNaughton was able to send the ball to the far post off a header setting up fellow defender David Colelli who sent his effort just over the crossbar.

However, Colelli would not be denied as he pinched up to convert a Nikolay Saveliev cross in the 44^th minute with a pin-point header to put the Blues ahead 1-0 at the break.
 

WATCH! David Colelli delivers a header on the Nikolay
Saveliev cross to put the Blues ahead 1-0 in today's @OUAsport quarter-final! pic.twitter.com/aInApXJu9R

— Varsity Blues (@Varsity_Blues) October 30, 2016

Five minutes into the second half Toronto nearly added to their lead as a cross in front of Ravens goalkeeper David Monk created an opportunity which was thwarted by a Carleton defender well positioned on the goal line.

The early second half chances for the Blues were then equaled by the Ravens with midfielder Alex Decouvreur capitalizing in the 73^rd minute with a strong strike to even the score 1-1.

Sloppy play by Weber Bourjolly in the 80^th minute resulted in a second yellow card of the match for the Carleton defender forcing the Ravens to play shorthanded for the remainder of the contest.

U of T would need just one minute to take advantage as Saveliev finished his incredible quarter-final performance with a beautiful free kick that went bar down securing the game-winning goal for the Blues.
 

WATCH Nikolay Saveliev go bar down to restore the Varsity Blues lead! #UofT up 2-1 in the @OUAsport quarter-final match! #BLEEDBLUE #WeAreTO pic.twitter.com/dmw9wsC3NB

— Varsity Blues (@Varsity_Blues) October 30, 2016

Toronto goalkeeper Mark Rogal finished the day with several strong clearances and one save while Monk registered two saves for the Ravens.

With the victory the Varsity Blues will now face the No. 1 York Lions in OUA semi-final action next weekend. Ryerson will host the OUA Final Four as the highest seed in the East. 

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