*Varsity Blues women's soccer season preview, presented by Lebanese Garden*

The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's soccer team is looking to make a return to the playoffs after reaching the OUA quarter-finals in 2024.

The Blues had a 6-3-3 (W-L-T) record in 2024, good for fifth place in the OUA East. This set them up for a cross-town matchup in the first round of the playoffs against the rival TMU Bold. A spectacular late game free-kick goal by Hannah Chown led the Blues to victory in the first round match. The Blues then fell to first-place Ottawa in the OUA quarter-final. With many returning players, U of T are primed to build upon last year's success.

FROM THE COACH'S DESK
"I'm really looking forward to the upcoming season. We have one of the most experienced groups we've had that bring a lot of great qualities on and off the field. This group has the ability to perform really well this season and I'm excited to see where the next few months take us."

• Angelo Cavalluzzo, University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's soccer head coach

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Key Returners: Hannah Chown (D), Hannah Anderson (MF), Ines Delhomelle (F), Anne Yeomans (F)
Key Additions: Lindsey Barwitzki (D)

LAST SEASON'S LEADERS
Goals: Anne Yeomans | 11 GP, 4 G
Assists: Naomi Atem | 10 GP, 2 A
Saves: Maria Godoy-Atrash | 7 GP, 37 SV

FROM THE FIELD
"Going into camp, I feel like we're in a great spot. We're a really competitive group with the maturity and experience to back it up. Our goal is to keep challenging each other every day and to let that drive our level as a team. Honestly, I'm most excited to see how far we can go together this season — we're ready to make it a memorable one."

• Hannah Chown, 5th year, Defender

MARQUEE GAMES
August 31 vs. Carleton
The Blues open their home schedule with a matchup against the Carleton Ravens, a team that they have been evenly matched against over the past couple years. Since 2019, each team has won three games and tied once. Last season, they tied the first game 2-2, then Carleton got the better of Toronto at Varsity Stadium in a 1-0 result later in the fall. The Blues will be hoping to get back in the win column and defend home turf early in the new campaign.

September 7 vs. Queen's
An early season test comes in the form of the Queen's Gaels, who finished third in the OUA East last season and has consistently come out on top over the Blues in the past decade. This game will prove to be a fantastic opportunity to change the narrative and upset a traditional rival team in front of a passionate Varsity Stadium crowd.

September 19 vs. TMU
After visiting TMU on September 14, the Blues will host their local rivals just five days later. TMU finished just one point above the Blues in the standings last season. Home field advantage was not enough for the Bold though as Toronto claimed that thrilling 1-0 victory in the first round of the playoffs. Prior to 2024, the Blues had won four of five games against TMU dating back to 2021, a trend that they will look to build on in 2025.

September 28 vs. Ottawa
Catch the Blues in their final regular season game at Varsity Stadium as they take on a Gee-Gees team that ended their playoff hopes last season. In their lone regular season matchup last September, Toronto got the better of first-place Ottawa in a 1-0 affair in the nation's capital, handing the Gee-Gees their only loss of the 2024 regular season. The Blues will go on a three game road trip following this match leading into playoffs in mid-October.

GET YOUR TICKETS
Tickets for all games can be purchased at varsityblues.ca/tickets and are free for students.

All Varsity Blues home soccer games will also be streamed live and on-demand via oua.tv.