TORONTO — While it wasn't surprising that tonight's fate demanded an extra period, it wasn't the finish the home fans were expecting. 

The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men's soccer team ultimately fell to the Carleton Ravens 1-0 in extra time on Saturday. 

The loss ends a memorable season during which TMU finished second in the OUA East division with an 8-1-3 record. 

Bold Head Coach Fil Prostran lamented on the aftermath.

"This is what the playoffs are," said Prostran. "They capitalized on their chance and we weren't able to capitalize on ours." 

Earlier in the evening, there was a silent confidence that emanated from the respective starting eleven sides as they took the pitch, leaving no room for early-game jitters to fester. The Bold and the Ravens had been in this situation before, making them immune to early mistakes.

Despite the comfort level on the pitch and Bold midfielder Justin Santos producing the first scoring opportunity, a header that landed outside the right post, it was the Ravens who controlled possession for the majority of the early portion of the match. 

The Bold seemed content to oblige with a game plan that involved confidently launching any threats away from their 18-yard box and over the surrounding fence at Downsview Park. Bold defender Noah Bickford was responsible for three of the four aggressive clearances, which helped temporarily stifle the match's early frenetic pace.  

The Ravens were awarded two consecutive corner kicks in the 17th minute. Both were expertly turned away to the ire of the Carleton offence. 

Two minutes later, the Bold successfully defended a free kick just outside of the penalty box.

Both teams remained in a 0-0 gridlock at halftime. 

While both sides returned to the pitch with renewed vigour, the Ravens continued to test the Bold defence. Each time, the Bold responded like the No. 5-ranked team in the nation. TMU's defence steered away four consecutive set pieces, highlighted by goalkeeper Nicholas Allison, who continuously hauled in or punched away anything within his radius. 

Midway through the second half, the Ravens and the Bold traded menacing counterattacks, with both defences showing off their pace to narrowly avoid disaster. The scoring chance rejuvenated the Bold as they controlled the tempo for the rest of regulation.  

In the closing moments of the second half, Santos sprinted down the left sideline with the ball before attempting a cross to Bold's top goal scorer Cyrus Rollocks. Before the ball reached Rollocks, it deflected off a Raven defender before ricocheting towards the goal. At the last second, the Ravens goalkeeper made a sprawling diving save to keep the score at zero. 

It seemed like these two teams were always destined for playoff overtime, and that's exactly what they delivered for the second year in a row. 

But in the closing minutes of the overtime's second half, it was the Ravens who ended the game with a header that floated just over the defence. 

"I'm really proud of the team's effort and not just in this game but all year long," said Prostran. "The way they acted and conducted themselves during adversity, I was really pleased with that." 

The Bold will begin their off-season to reflect on another successful year for a program accustomed to success. They are the only team to finish in the top three in the East standings in each of the last five years.