The total demolition of the Nipissing Lakers was, according to defender Neil D’Silva “needed redemption” for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues men’s soccer team.
After playing out an embarrassing 1-1 draw with the Lakers at Nipissing on the opening day of the season, the Blues blanked the team 6-0 at Varsity Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Coach Anthony Capotosto was especially pleased that each of the six goals his team scored came from the boot of a different player, calling it a ‘good sign’ as he hailed the Blues biggest win of the season so far.
The Lakers had the best of the opening exchanges, with Toronto only scoring the first of their six in the 40th minute. Striker Nordo Gooden netted that goal from mid-fielder Darragh McGee’s free kick.
Gooden had been a constant threat to the Lakers defense, though his first touch let him down frequently.
Coach Capotosto noticed Gooden’s lack of focus and after the game said, “Nordo knows he can do better, and needs to help keep us in possession when we give the ball to him.”
Mid-fielder Ezequiel Lubocki netted the second after a mazy run down the right. At a glance it seemed as if there was no way his acute-angled shot would make it through the goal posts, but the ball entered nonetheless.
The Blues entered halftime up 2-0.
Striker Alexander Raphael got the Blues on the board again a mere six minutes into the second half, calmly lifting the ball over Lakers’ keeper Andrew Richard following a one-two with Gooden.
The fourth goal came from the foot of substitute midfielder Jesse Assing who unleashed a powerful 20-yard drive into the bottom left corner of the net for his first career goal.
McGee, who was at the heart of every Blues move, delivered the fifth goal lifting the ball over Richard, who had come too far out to thwart Raphael’s attacks.
It was a typically measured action from McGee, who controlled play throughout the game and had a hand in almost every one of the Blues goals.
Capotosto praised McGee after the game and said he was a “tremendous player” who had shown “great leadership qualities on the pitch.”
Mid-fielder Lawrence Buchan wrapped up the game, converting a cross from McGee’s.
Not only was the match redemption for the Blues, it catapulted them to the top of the OUA East standings, a position the team is determined to hold on to for the remainder of the season.
