TORONTO — The Toronto Metropolitan (TMU) Bold women's soccer team returns to the pitch at Downsview Park this week to kick off the 2025-26 season. 

After finishing fourth in the OUA East last season and exiting in the first round of playoffs against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, the Bold are looking to build on their progress. Despite the early playoff exit last season, TMU tied its single-season win record with seven victories. This improved record is a sign of the program's growth. 

This season, the Bold will face new challenges with a shorter roster and the departure of several key veterans. As the team transitions, younger players will begin to take on bigger roles. 

Many of the younger players made their impressions last season, such as midfielder Natalie Moynihan. After an impressive first-year campaign, she was named an OUA East Second-Team All-Star and received the 2024-25 TMSU Female Rookie of the Year Award at the Bold Awards. Defender Reilly Flesher also made an early impact last season, scoring in her debut match against Trent. The Bold will be looking for these young standouts to break through this season. 

Fifth-year Journey Lashley will be serving as a veteran presence this season. With her sights set on a deeper playoff run, she emphasized the team's ambitions, "Getting deep in the playoffs is the objective."

In between the pipes, Elisa Paolucci returns as the team's starting goalkeeper. She plans to focus on personal growth this season, aiming to improve not only her on-field stats but also her leadership skills.  Reflecting on the shorter roster, she said, "Having a smaller group, I think it's really going to take like our culture and our willingness to fight and compete and bring that same energy to every game that I think that will really help us." 

Third-year defender Amanda Rankin shared similar opinions, highlighting the importance of player management throughout the intense OUA season: "We have a shorter roster than I think that we've had in the past years, so I think it's really just managing our players because you know our season is very demanding and we usually have two games every week."

One advantage of having a smaller roster is that stronger connections and chemistry can develop among players. Many Bold team members competed together for Scrosoppi FC in League 1 Ontario during the off-season, already establishing connections.

Additionally, to welcome the new recruits, Rankin shared that the team prioritized team bonding activities in the preseason, building chemistry on and off the pitch.

Lashley also appreciated the opportunity to connect with the younger group, "It's been really good so far, like me personally being basically the oldest on the team, I love getting to know new people and the new personalities on the team." 

Paolucci expressed confidence in the team's chemistry going into the OUA season: "We have a lot of good leaders on the team who are able to bring everyone together and work with each other, and it's been great in practice so far, so everybody's been coming together really well."

The Bold will open their season at home against the Carleton Ravens on Saturday, Aug. 30, at Downsview Park. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. Admission is free to all games—come out and show your support for the blue and gold.