The No. 4 nationally ranked University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's soccer team fell 3-2 to the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks on Saturday (Sept. 12) afternoon in Oshawa, Ont.
In a high intensity game between two OUA rivals, the Blues and Ridgebacks clashed for 90 hard fought minutes on the pitch. Gaining the advantage in the 19
th minute was Ontario Tech as Azim Mohammad set up Nika Gaeini for the 1-0 lead. Ontario Tech gained a two-goal advantage in the 36
th minute with Alex Maadanian's strike from distance put the Blues on their heels going into halftime.
Toronto came out firing to begin the second half with quick feet and winning battles for positioning. As the Blues drew a foul in the 52
nd minute. Third-year forward Niklas Hallam's strike from the spot beat a diving Peter Sherberstov to cut the deficit in half. The Blues managed to draw another foul in the 55
th minute and once again, Hallam was called upon from the spot. The kinesiology student beat Sherberstov once again, firing the ball into the same spot of the net to tie the game.
The intensity stayed high all game long with Toronto and Ontario Tech both looking for a difference maker. In the Ridgebacks regained the lead in the 75
th minute as Maadanian found himself on the scoresheet again, setting up Erion Mataj for the eventual game-winning goal.
U of T continued to fight until the final whistle but were unable to find a third goal before the end of 90 minutes of play. Second-year goalkeeper Charles Donvito got the start in goal and finished the game with four saves.
The Blues are back in action on Sunday (Sept. 13) afternoon when they take on the Trent Excalibur in Peterborough, Ont. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:15 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on
oua.tv.
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