On the night of October 23, the strong winds at Varsity Stadium blew away the championship dreams of the Varsity Blues men’s soccer team. The team’s championship hopes ended abruptly with a 5–2 loss to Ontario Tech University in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) playoff quarterfinals.
The Blues entered the OUA quarterfinal match with high expectations. Playing on home turf, they faced the fifth-seeded Ridgebacks, who dominated the game from start to finish, ending the Blues’ 2024–2025 title campaign.
What happened?
It was a surprising start to the game for those watching. The Ridgebacks pressed hard on the Blues’ defense, forcing them to clear the ball from deep in their own half of the field multiple times.
As the minutes passed, the nerves didn’t seem to subside. The Blues were erratic, unable to connect passes and move the ball forward, which made them vulnerable in the middle of the field and allowed the Ridgebacks to get close.
The opening goal came 22 minutes into the game, when Ridgebacks defender Alexander Irwin seized an opportunity, stopping a cross with his chest and placing it in the net. A few minutes later, defender Alex Maadanian crossed the ball from the left side, finding defender Matthew Keeler alone in the penalty box, who scored to make it 2–0.
The Blues appeared disorganized and unable to execute the cohesive play that had propelled their success throughout the season. Recognizing the situation, Coach Ilya Orlov got forward Niklas Hallam off the bench at the 37-minute mark.
Before the end of the first half, another high ball from the left flank found both Blues goalkeeper Maxwell Campeau and Irwin in the air. The ball dispute resulted in a goal for the visiting team, leaving the Blues down 3–0 at halftime.
Midfield Shon Siegelwachs drives the ball toward the opposition. COURTESY OF ARU DAS CC VARSITY BLUES MEDIA
The second half of the game felt like a massive hill to climb, especially after the Ridgebacks scored from a corner kick about two minutes in, extending their lead to 4–0.
Erratic passing by the Blues in the midfield allowed the Ridgebacks to find space and the ball. At the 53-minute mark, Maadanian stole the ball, sprinted alone, and scored from outside the box, bringing the Ridgebacks’ lead to 5–0.
Toronto fought hard in the last 30 minutes of the match. A foul in the box resulted in a penalty kick, and forward Andrea Schifano’s subsequent penalty found the net at the 81-minute mark, making the score 5–1.
At the 90-minute mark, Blues Captain Mehdi Essoussi carried the ball into the goal box, assisting forward Kingsley Belele who scored the final goal, ending the match at 5–2.
Forward Kingsley Belele whips in a cross from the wing. COURTESY OF ARU DAS CC VARSITY BLUES MEDIA
What’s next?
The Blues have been eliminated from the OUA championship. Nonetheless, it was a fantastic season for the team, showcasing great matches from a squad that will miss key senior players who have completed their final year.
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