TORONTO — With a deep roster featuring a promising squad of fresh talent and returning veterans, the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men's soccer team will be entering the 2025-26 season with high hopes.

After a heartbreaking OUA semifinal departure against the York Lions ended a standout 2024 season, the Bold are eager for redemption. Last season, TMU climbed as high as the No. 3 ranking in the country and finished second in the OUA East division.

Last season featured several key victories, including a hard-fought, extra-time victory over the Carleton Ravens in the OUA quarterfinals. However, their championship dreams were cut short one round later.

Fifth-year veteran Justin Santos is ready to leave it all out on the pitch this season and get a taste of OUA victory: "We've never won it. We've come close. Dante [Ferraro] and I have both been in the final, so we've tasted the final, but we've never tasted victory. So, definitely my personal goal would be finally getting to that end line and finally lifting that trophy at the end of the season."

Fourth-year starting goalkeeper Dante Ferraro shared the same opinion: "We've gotten really, really close to lifting that trophy, and I think focusing on the little things just to get us there and get the team there would be the most important thing for us to focus on."

The Bold have added new key players to the roster over the offseason, such as former Guelph Gryphons captain and versatile midfielder Gray Yates. With this being his last season in the OUA, Yates is also eager to make his mark, "I think this year, just because it's my last year, I really want to go out with a medal, hopefully. So initially, I want to aim for OUA gold, and then hopefully that leads to Nationals gold."

With a recruiting class of 13, the Bold also saw the addition of players such as Cyrus Rollocks, brother of former Bold star forward Jevontae Layne, as well as League1 champion Luc Ihama and NCAA transfer Noah Bickford. 

Several new additions have experience playing together and with current Bold teammates on the League1 North Toronto Nitros. 

"A lot of the players on the team, me and Dante included, play League1 during the summer so it definitely helps us keep in shape obviously throughout the summer because that's one of the biggest things is keeping fit," said Santos. 

With the new season quickly approaching, the Bold are ready to fine-tune their play and make an impression. 

Reflecting on small changes from last season, Ferraro shared, "I think if anything defensively just focusing on the certain little things, certain tactics. We worked very well, we did very well all together. Not a lot to change, if anything just small fine tweaks, but it's just focusing on finishing and putting the ball in the back of the net."

Despite the many new players, the veterans are confident in the team's chemistry going into the season. 

"It's always good to add new faces," said Santos. "Obviously we lost a lot of key players last year from our lineup but players come, players go. The chemistry always stays the same."

Yates also shared how seamless his transition was to the Bold squad: "Being a new guy coming into the team, of course, like anytime you change, go to a new environment, it's hard at first, right. But every single guy on the team made me feel super welcome. And it really was a great experience. I had no issue with the transition."

The Bold will kick off their 2025-26 OUA campaign on the road on Sunday, Aug. 31, against the Trent Excalibur. Game time is set for 3:15 p.m., and the match can be viewed online for free on OUA.tv.