The No. 7 University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's soccer team fell in penalty kicks versus the Trent Excalibur in a first round OUA playoff contest on Wednesday (Oct. 21) night in Peterborough.
Delivering a Herculean effort, the Varsity Blues battled back from a three-goal deficit to force the match into overtime and penalty kicks.
The comeback attempt began in the 37
th minute when fourth-year forward Andrea Schifano scored directly from a corner kick, sending the ball past the outstretched arms of the Excalibur keeper and into the far side of the net.
Next, it was second-year midfielder Micah Joseph speeding through two Trent defenders in the 70
th minute to notch a second goal for Toronto and draw within one.
Finally, just five minutes later Schifano delivered a perfect cross to the far post where second-year defender Thomas Tome connected with a header for the game-tying goal.
In the overtime period, Trent nearly jumped back ahead when they drew a penalty kick, but second-year goalkeeper Shane Perera was up to the task making both the first save and a stop on the rebound to keep the score even. Perera would finish with four saves through regulation.
However, the magical come-from-behind effort came up just short when the game went to overtime penalty kicks. With two misses for the visitor Blues, the home side Excalibur were able to secure their first-ever OUA postseason win.
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