The Varsity Blues women’s soccer team were hungry for a strong start at this season’s opener against their crosstown rival Ryerson Rams: and they did just that.
Striker Chelsea Cheung moved quickly through the Ram’s defense, scoring in the first 35 seconds of the game; the Rams responded by scoring a goal of their own. Nevertheless, the Blues having found their stride clearly dominated the remainder of the first half.
This success, however, by no means ensures momentum. “We need to get into training next week and prepare for two big games against Queens and RMC,” said head coach Stewart Neely about the team’s next steps for the season, adding, that “at the end of the day, the result was fitting for us… we did enough to see the game out, we ran out of gas near the end.”
With some fresh faces in the starting line up the team has an exciting roster that seems to have bonded quickly in the pre-season games.
“It really pumped us up!” said striker Breda Murillo, speaking of the win. “There was some pre-game nerves but we really found our legs.”
The second half saw both teams playing very defensively, and for the Blues it was an effort to maintain their lead. The Rams scored early in the second half but were ultimately unable to press the Blues’ lead. The game ended 4-2.
“We need to do better in the second half, keep our foot on the gas pedal and finish off the job thoroughly,” Neely said about the team’s strategy for upcoming games.
If the team can maintain their tempo, keep up the on field communication, and know when to pass deep and when to stick together, then they will be a team to be reckoned with at the Ontario University Athletics championships.
The women will travel to Kingston to take on Queen’s University Gaels on September 5.
