Opening their 2025 OUA regular season on the road in Oshawa, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's soccer team earned a 2-0 victory over the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks on Friday (Aug. 29) night.

Looking to avenge a quarter-final loss versus the Ridgebacks from a season ago, U of T came out with a high intensity attack which seemed to catch the home side off guard. The physical play saw both teams earn a number of early fouls but also allowed Toronto to quickly build a large shot count advantage.

The high pressure was rewarded with a penalty kick opportunity for the Blues in the 15^th minute. Stepping to the spot, third-year midfielder Mehdi Essoussi made easy work of the goal scoring chance sending the keeper in the wrong direction to secure the opening goal of the game.

Keeping the action away from their own end, U of T would continue to pressure, accumulating 19 total shots through the 90-minute contest. The Blues would convert another one of those shots in the 88^th minute. A U SPORTS all-rookie last season after leading Toronto with 10 goals, second-year midfielder Niklas Hallam wasted no time in recording his first goal of a new season. Receiving a perfectly crossed ball from fifth-year forward Kingsley Belele, Hallam delivered a perfect shot off his right foot into the lower corner past the outstretched arms of the Ridgebacks keeper.

In a stellar defensive performance, second-year midfielder Alexei Ivanov and second-year defender John Ntoukas made it easy for U of T goaltender Filip Zendelek to earn his first clean sheet as a Varsity Blue, limiting the Ridgebacks to just one shot on goal.

Toronto returns to Varsity Stadium for their home opener hosting the Carleton Ravens on Sunday (Aug. 31) afternoon. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. Tickets are available at varsityblues.ca/tickets, while the match is also available live and on-demand via oua.tv.