The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's soccer team opens their 2019 regular season on the road against the RMC Paladins and Queen's Gaels this weekend (Aug. 31-Sept. 1) in Kingston, Ont. The action starts at 3:15 p.m., on both days.

The Varsity Blues went 11-4-1 last season, placing them third in the OUA East division. After a thrilling 1-0 extra-time victory in the first round, Toronto's post-season came to a close in the quarter-finals versus the Ryerson Rams.
Despite the early exit, first-year head coach Ilya Orlov is positive that his team has what it takes to go the distance in 2019.

"The main core of the team for this season will be built around the returning players in the their fourth and fifth years," said Orlov. "Our team will be organized with and without the ball with an emphasis on transition play, something that all the top teams now do. We have a forward-thinking mentality and will look to get at teams quickly and play a pressing game without the ball. Anyone watching our games this season will enjoy and be entertained in the way we play."

Three-time OUA all-star Nikola Stakic, as well as two-time OUA all-stars Kenny Lioutas and Marko Mandekic will all look to lead the squad in 2019.

Toronto has also sharpened their roster by adding a couple new faces. Matthew Roberts, a striker from Hamilton, Ont., comes to the Blues after four seasons across the pond in Wales, where he played for Swansea City FC, while Atchu Sivananthan, a midfielder from Brampton, Ont., is an OUA West all-star who transferred from the Guelph Gryphons this season.

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