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TMU Athletics & Recreation

THE OFFICIAL HOME OF TMU Bold
THE OFFICIAL HOME OF THE TMU Bold HOME OF THE TMU Bold
The 2024 TMU Women's Soccer team stands for the national anthem at Downsview Park.
Kaitlyn Leboutillier
0
Trent TRENT (0-1-0)
3
Winner Toronto Metropolitan TMU (1-0-0)
Trent TRENT
(0-1-0)
0
Final
3
Toronto Metropolitan TMU
(1-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Trent TRENT 0 0 0
Toronto Metropolitan TMU 0 3 3

Game Recap: Soccer (W) | | Jay Greyvenstein

Women’s Soccer Opens 2024 Season with Dominant Victory Over Trent

TORONTO – The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold found the net three times, Elisa Paolucci earned a clean sheet, and the women's soccer team grabbed their first three points of the season on Friday night in a season-opening victory against Trent. The 3-0 result has the Bold atop the OUA conference standings as the opening weekend gets underway.

Despite the commanding score line, the Bold found themselves unable to solve the Trent defence through the opening frame. In fact, through the opening quarter of the contest, Trent had the better chance. Although she was called upon just twice, Paolucci would be instrumental in stemming the early Trent tide, with an acrobatic, lunging save in the 30th minute. The save seemed to calm the nerves of a young Bold side, who quickly shifted momentum.

TMU's best chance of the half would come moments after the save, when second-year Kennedy Pryce won the Bold a penalty against a tired Excalibur defence. Though they were unable to bury the ensuing spot kick, the Bold felt good about their opening 45 minutes to the season.

"We had the right idea, we knew what we wanted to do coming into this game," said Paolucci of the Bold's start. "It was just about executing it and settling into the game."

The Bold breakthrough would come after the halftime break. It opened with first-year Reilly Flesher launching an incredible strike past the Trent keeper in the 55th minute. It was a spectacular first career goal for the defender which capped a great debut for the London, Ontario native. 

Fueled by the goal, the Bold would quickly build on their newfound advantage. Just five minutes later Aalayah Lully would double the Bold lead, pouncing on a rebound created by Taliyah Walker. It was a fitting connection for the two most experienced Bold forwards entering the season opener.

However, tonight was all about the young stars. The Bold would find the net for a final time just a few minutes later, with Pryce finding a wide open Mera Saleh alone in the box to seal the game for the Bold. Saleh, another first-year contributor for the Bold, quickly ran to celebrate with the reserves in the stands. Saleh's celebration is representative of a new dynamic for the Bold this season, one focused on the team's family dynamic. 

"We have a lot of new people in the group, but we've come together really well over the past couple of weeks," added Paolucci. "We just really enjoy being around each other and the culture of the team this year. We've talked a lot about being a family and playing for the person next to you."

The team returns to action tomorrow afternoon, taking on the Queen's University Gaels at 1 pm at Downsview Park. Admission will be free for all TMU home soccer matches this season and every home match will also be broadcast live on OUA.tv.
 
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