PETERBOROUGH, ONT. — The No. 6 nationally-ranked Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men's soccer team defeated the Trent University Excalibur on Sunday afternoon, 3-2 at Justin Chiu Stadium.
The win came with some revenge for the Bold, who took their first loss of the 2026 regular season to the Excalibur at home in their previous match on September 19. Trent scored the bout's lone goal with a miraculous bicycle kick in the 87th minute, breaking the hearts of the TMU fans at Downsview Park. It was the first time the Bold were officially defeated by the Excalibur in a match since the OUA began recording box scores in 2009, excluding two default losses in 2017.
After resting for eight days, Head Coach
Filip Prostran's squad entered the match in Peterborough with fresh legs and a fire in their souls. The match featured high energy and a physical nature: Trent received five yellow cards.
Bold defender
Noah Pickering got things started early, burying a shot off a deflection in the eighth minute.
TMU dominated possession over the Excalibur, notching seven shots in the first half to Trent's zero. Both Pickering and midfielder
Aidan Hugo found multiple quality chances during the frame.
It was Pickering once again who found the back of the net next to secure a brace on the match. The third-year took advantage of open space when Excalibur goalkeeper Jack Belanger left his zone in an attempt to collect a cross; the ball instead bounced off the head of the Bold's
Tyler Yasaka, who put it in position for his teammate to finish it off for a comfortable 2-0 TMU lead.
With his two contributions against the Excalibur, Pickering ups his goal total to three on the season so far. That ranks him second on the team: a seriously impressive jump from last season, where the Business Management major logged zero goals in 12 games played.
Trent came alive later in the second half, scoring on a well-placed lead pass that landed just out of the reach of the Bold defenders.
The Excalibur's celebrations wouldn't last for long, though: TMU scored again just two minutes later. Second-year midfielder
Jamie Benayon-Abraham beat Belanger to a loose ball, chipping it in for his first goal of the season and the second of his OUA career.
Despite another goal from Trent in the 85th minute, TMU cruised into the final whistle with a 3-2 win. Prostran's squad outshot the Excalibur 12 to five, including a nine to four difference in shots on goal.
The Bold's record improves to 4-1-1 on the season, placing them fourth in the OUA East Division standings with 13 points. They now enter a four-match homestand at Downsview Park, not hitting the road again until October 17.
Their next matchup is on Saturday, October 3 against the Royal Military College Paladins. Start time is set for 3:15 p.m. at Downsview Park, and fans can also tune in online on OUA.tv.
