Box Score Opening the 2017 season Saturday afternoon (Aug. 26) against the visiting Nipissing Lakers, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's soccer team outlasted their opponents in a hard-fought 2-1 season opening win at Varsity Stadium.
From kickoff, both teams brought late season physicality to the match with the Blues opening the scoring in the 40th minute. Third-year striker Jae Jin Lee picked up his first goal as a Varsity Blue as he sent a hard shot on net which deflected off a Lakers defender before it found the back of the net.
The score remained in favour of the Varsity Blues for much of the action as both teams went back-and-forth on the pitch battling to find another marker.
The Lakers would break through in the 81st minute when Andy Bago sent a shot on net from a tough angle. The ball would find its way through a group in front of Varsity Blues veteran goalkeeper Mark Rogal who was unable to find the ball before it found the mesh.
The Varsity Blues were quick to respond however with the offence crowding the Lakers net to earn a penalty kick from the physical play inside the goalkeepers box.
Second-year defender and 2016 OUA East first team all-star Nikola Stakic made easy work of the penalty kick to take back a one goal lead and secure the 2-1 victory.
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Rogal finished the afternoon with two saves, while Lakers keeper Achuthan Shanmugaratnam made four.
The Blue and White are back in action tomorrow afternoon (Aug. 27) when they host the Laurentian Voyageurs at Varsity Stadium. Kick off is once again set for 2:15 p.m.
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