TMU Athletics & Recreation

TORONTO — Coming off a win last weekend over the Carleton Ravens, the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold women's soccer team looked to rise in the rankings as they kicked off against the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks. The Ridgebacks currently hold the fifth-place position in the OUA East at 13 points, with the Bold right behind them with 11 points. 
 
Unfortunately, after a hard-fought battle, the Bold conceded the game to the Ridgebacks 2-0.
 
In the first half, the Bold took off early into the Ridgebacks zone until the opposing team responded right back. The Ridgebacks got a shot off minutes later, but fourth-year keeper Elisa Paolucci saved it with ease. After being pressured in their own half, the Bold had two back-to-back chances, both generated by Gloria Lucas. Unfortunately, the ball went wide of the net on both attempts. A Bold corner kick followed, placed perfectly into the six-yard box, but it found the hands of the Ridgeback goalkeeper.
 
The Bold's defence remained strong as they were able to keep Ontario Tech's attack at bay. The first real chance for TMU came at the 24th minute as defender Reilly Flesher got the ball to Lucas, who put it within feet of the net for first-year Hannah Duncan, but it sailed over the crossbar. No more than a minute later, Lucas and Duncan connected again, but the ball caught the crossbar, robbing the Bold of a chance to change the score.
 
Just like during their matches last weekend, the wind gusts played a major hurdle to overcome. The blows reached a high 21km/h and resulted in wild balls in the Bold's end, but Paolucci remained composed, getting her body behind the ball to keep it even. Towards the end of the half, TMU captain Natalie Moynihan had two corner kick chances, but the wind pushed it past the packed box out to the other end of the field. Taylor Fazzari and Lucas tried for one last press of the half, until the whistle blew signalling the end of the half.
 
As the teams cleared the field, the score was deadlocked at 0-0. Leaving the game to be decided by the remaining 45 minutes of the game.
 
Three minutes into the second half, after trying to stop a Ridgeback attacker from an open net, Paolucci was shown a red card. On top of having to deal with a penalty kick, TMU would now have to manage playing with 10 players for the remainder of the contest. In Paolucci's absence, first-year goalkeeper Will Boorne was put into the highest-pressure situation of the game. Boorne showed no fear. As the ball left the striker's foot, Boorne dove to the right side, getting a hand on the ball and pushing it past the post for Isabella Langeli to clear it out the back. This pivotal save kept the game tied at zero and was Boorne's first of her career.
 
Possessions were traded back and forth during the first ten minutes of the half, but after the red card and Mera Saleh needing to leave the game in the 55^th minute, the Bold had to regain their footing. Midfielder Becca Bartosh made a run down the line into the Ridgebacks' half but was dispelled. In the 63^rd minute of the game, Ridgeback forward Jessica Shears ran into the box and took a shot for the ball to find the left side of the net, marking the first goal of the game. The Bold tried to regroup, but two minutes later, another successful attack came from the opposing team's offence to put Ontario Tech up by two goals.
 
With 25 minutes left in the game, the Bold tried to produce opportunities as Flescher took a free kick just in front of the half, but it was cleared away. Despite the two goals, Will Boorne went on to make five saves to keep the Ridgebacks from increasing their lead any further. 
 
The Bold still hang onto their playoff spot with two games in hand against the Carleton Ravens.
 
Tomorrow, in their last home game of the season, the Bold celebrate their graduating seniors and look to get back in the win column as they host the Laurentian Voyageurs in the Bold's official OUA Week game. Kickoff begins at 1:00 pm and it is FREE for fans to come and watch.