The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's soccer team will be looking to for their second straight upset victory over a nationally-ranked opponent as they open the 2019 OUA Final Four versus the host York Lions this Friday, November 1 at Alumni Field.
 
Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. All four matches will be streamed live on OUA.tv.
 
The Carleton Ravens are set to battle the Guelph Gryphons in the other semifinal on Friday. The winner of Friday's semifinals will not only advance to Saturday's gold-medal match, they will also secure a place at the 2019 U SPORTS championship, November 7-10, hosted by the University of Montreal.
 
"We are facing one of the top teams in the country at their home field," said Varsity Blues head coach Ilya Orlov. "We are focusing on ourselves and what we need to do to come with a win. We are now a confident group that is peaking at the right time of the season and look to continue the momentum. We will need to stay organized in our shape with and without the ball and finish off our chances when they come our way."
The Blues will be vying for their first OUA title since 2010, when they beat the York Lions in a penalty shootout. Since 2008, Toronto has also claimed two silver medals (2009, 2011) and three bronze medals (2014, 2015, 2016). 
 
U of T reached the OUA Final Four for the first time since 2016 following a 3-1 upset quarter-final victory over the then No. 5 nationally-ranked Ryerson Rams.  Toronto finished the regular season as the No. 3 seed in the East division. They were drawn against the No. 6 Nipissing Lakers in the first round, who they brushed aside 6-0 to set up the battle against city rivals Ryerson.
 
For U of T, a host of both experienced and young players has been the difference in their push to the OUA Final Four. 
 
Blues captain Nikola Stakic has been instrumental to the team's success this season. The central midfielder has scored five goals, including one in the 3-1 quarter-final win over Ryerson. He has started all but three games this season, making him a key player as the Blues look to reach further heights this post-season.
 
Athcu Sivananthan's blistering pace on the wing has also made him a force to be reckoned with. The fifth-year transfer from Guelph has scored five goals this season, two of which came in the thumping 6-0 playoff win over Nipissing.  Rookie Jacob Doroszkiewicz is the Blues top scorer this season, notching six goals this campaign. His most eye-catching moment was the hattrick he scored to propel the Blues to a 3-1 win over the Trent Excalibur during the regular season.
 
As for York, the Lions finished as the No. 1 seed in the OUA West division, recording 11 wins and three draws in 14 games, making them the only unbeaten team in the province. The Lions bested the Marauders, 4-1, in their quarter-final this past Sunday to earn hosting rights for the Final Four.
 
2019 OUA Final Four Schedule
Alumni Field, York University
 
Friday, November 1
4:00pm   Guelph vs Carleton
7:00pm   Toronto vs York

Saturday, November 2
2:00pm    Bronze-Medal Match
5:00pm   Gold-Medal Match

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