TORONTO - The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold women's soccer team witnessed their season come to a bitter end earlier this evening, dropping their first round matchup by a score of 2-0 to the rivaled Toronto Varsity Blues.
Despite a strong pushback from the Bold in the first half, the group was ultimately unable to overcome the Blues lethal attack in the second set of 45 as the match slowly began to unravel for the visitors.
It was another rough start on the road for the Bold, with a flurry of Toronto chances seamlessly strangling the group in their own end.
By the time the 13th minute rolled around, the home sided Blues put an initial dent in the scoreboard following a strike from Cassie Chan.
The rookie defender could not have picked a more opportune moment to net her first of the season, beating goalkeeper Abby Harrison on the ground to capitalize on a misplay in the box from TMU's defence.
"It's these moments that we tend to give up, and ultimately end up hurting us," said head coach John Yacou following the defeat.
The tally marked the third consecutive contest in which the Bold were beaten to the scoreboard. During their final road trip of the regular season, the Bold struggled to articulate a proper response to early deficits and payed the price in the standings as a result.
That weakness however, would be left in the regular season as the blue and gold came back with a series of attacks in an attempt to even up the score.
Skylar Sheehan-Alleyene led the way for the Bold, looking dangerous while streaking down the left side of the pitch. The third-year would supply numerous attempts at goal for her teammates, but come away unsuccessful in inking the scoresheet.
Yacou believed the match was one of Sheehan-Alleyene's best games all year, commending her for "wanting to make a difference" with her opportunities from start to finish.
The Bold's most dangerous chance came just minutes before the end of the first half, and fire off the boot of leading goalscorer Ivymae Perez nonetheless. An extra touch in the box would spoil Perez's attempt at extending her career season, as the ball limped wide of the Blues goal.
Not capitalizing on the late chance would become one of the Bold's biggest regrets of the evening and possibly their season, as the home side came out in the second half with their sights set on locking the game down.
The Blues effectively defended their one-goal lead by pressing higher up the pitch. Karly Hellstrom would come close to doubling the Blues score early in the half, beating Harrison from far out, but not the post that deflected the ball wide.
Instead, the dagger would come in the 65th minute and off the foot of Rena Nakajima to do everything but seal the deal for the home side. Like Chan, it was a timely first goal to Nakajima's season that helped advance the Blues to the second round.
Despite their early exit, Yacou continues to look forward to developing his young roster in the upcoming season. Likewise, the bench boss was more than satisfied with meeting his preseason plans involving postseason soccer.
