A hat trick from Mario Kovacevic and a goal from Ezequiel Lubocki gave the Varsity Blues a dominant 4–0 win over the Ryerson Rams (8–3–2) at the Varsity Centre Sunday afternoon. The victory propelled the team — 8–2–2 this season — to second place in the OUA east division standings. The Blues are now just four points behind first-place Carleton with only two regular season games remaining before the OUA playoffs begin on October 26.
Following a disappointing 0–0 draw with Trent University in Peterborough earlier in the week, the Blues were determined to bounce back on home turf against local rivals Ryerson. Toronto began the game well, controlling play in the opening five minutes thanks in large part to the energetic midfield trio of captain Darragh McGee, Dylan Bams, and Lubocki. The first real chance of the match came in the fifth minute when a Lubocki long-range shot hit a Ryerson defender and seemed goal-bound, only to sail just over the crossbar.
The Rams thought they had gone 1–0 up in the 15th minute when, following a swift counter-attack, Toronto’s goalkeeper John Smits had trouble handling a wide shot and a Ryerson forward slotted the rebound into the net. However, the goal was disallowed due to offside. Unfortunately for the Blues, Smits was injured in a collision on that play, and was forced to leave the game to be replaced by substitute ‘keeper Russell Moore.
In the end it was Blues striker Kovacevic who drew first blood, putting Toronto up 1-0 with a fantastic diving header from a curling cross from the left foot of Lubocki in the 20th minute. Kovacevic almost scored a second goal less than two minutes later; the striker chipped the ball over the on-rushing goalkeeper, but a Ryerson defender scrambled to clear the ball just before it crossed the goal line.
The Blues were dealt another serious injury blow when captain McGee injured his knee in a collision in the 26th minute. He was replaced by midfielder Ryan Sciacchitano, with Bams moved to the holding position that McGee had occupied while Sciacchitano took a more advanced role.
Some fireworks ensued in the 40th minute when the Ryerson captain appeared to step on Lubocki as the Blues’ midfielder lay on the ground. A minor skirmish erupted between the two, and both players received yellow cards.
Three minutes later, following a quick and methodical Toronto counter-attack, a cross by Lawrence Buchan from the left wing evaded Ryerson goalkeeper and Lubocki pounced to double the Blues’ lead at the end of the half.
The second half was a breeze for Toronto. Kovacevic completed his hat trick with goals within ten minutes of each other. The tall striker smashed Geoffrey Borgmann’s low cross into the net in the 60th minute for his second of the game. For his third, Kovacevic blasted the ball past the rushing Ryerson goalkeeper after a one-two with Sciacchitano in the 68th minute.
The Rams were simply outclassed by Toronto’s authoritative midfield, the imperious defending of centre-backs Nikola Paunic and Scott Nesbitt, and Moore’s solid goaltending. Although the injuries to Smits and McGee are cause for concern, head coach Anthony Capotosto can be pleased with his team’s strong performance, especially with the OUA playoffs in the offing.
A first place finish in the OUA East is still very much a possibility, with only Trent and Carleton remaining in the regular season.
The Varsity Blues take on Trent University at the Varsity Centre on October 19, 2011 at 8.30 pm.
