By Francesco Cautillo

After advancing to the second round of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) playoffs, the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men’s soccer team were unable to advance after losing to the Carleton University Ravens on Saturday at Downsview Park. This didn’t come without effort, however. The match went into overtime but ultimately ended 1-0 in Carleton’s favour.

The Bold punched their ticket into the postseason on Oct. 7 after a 1-0 win over the Ontario Tech University Ridgebacks.

Their last game of the regular season also came against the Ravens, which ended in a draw at one-all. This meant that TMU would come into the playoffs ranked fifth in the nation, with Carleton ranked tenth.

Fast chances on both ends kicked off this highly anticipated match. Only a minute in, fifth-year veteran midfielder Justin Santos delivered a dangerous headed chance, which was quickly grabbed by fourth-year Carleton goalkeeper Roberto Paguaga Frankovich.

Carleton started to find their footing around the 18th minute after a series of corners helped bring momentum in their favour. Third-year midfielder Caden Tomy stepped up to take a Raven free kick just outside the TMU 18-yard box, where his shot was saved by third-year goalkeeper Nicholas Allison, who stepped up at point blank range.

The Bold picked away at the Ravens’ defence by utilizing crosses from the wide zones but Carleton persisted in a deep defensive formation, allowing for long ball counter attacks.

Third-year defender Noah Bickford remained a thorn in the side of the Raven offence, blocking shots and clearing crosses which threatened Allison’s goal.

The first half ended in a deadlock, with both teams hoping to spark the opening goal in the second half.

The pressing playstyle of the teams led to messy attacks on both sides, with midfielders struggling to find any advantages.

The two goalkeepers were the key players of the game heading into the hour mark, plunging out and collecting any crosses from the opposition. Allison stood tall and continued to punch out shots, keeping the game level.

Concern continued to pile up for the home side as TMU’s attacking issues carried on, while their opposition barraged the defensive zone with corner kicks.

The Bold began their late push by shifting their focus to a possession-based strategy, however Carleton’s defensive consistency counteracted any pressure from the blue and gold.

The 75th minute brought questions to viewers at Downsview Park, wondering if either team would snap the goalless seal in regulation time. At this point, Bold head coach Filip Prostran began to reach into his squad depth in hopes that a substitute could help make an impact in this late drive.

Santos had a deep run down the left flank in the 83rd minute, providing an early-hit cross on TMU’s most menacing counter attack yet. His pass hit off the leg of a Raven defender and was quickly deflected towards the net but Paguaga Frankovich’s reflexes came through for the desperate save.

The clock struck the 90th minute and the game winner was yet to be found. The two squads exchanged attacks, with Carleton gaining attempts from corners and crosses, while TMU looked to use their speed and passing play to slip through the open slots.

After the final whistle, the teams gathered near their respective benches and their fans waited in anticipation as Downsview Park was set to host another thirty minutes of extra time.

It was certain now that the Bold had hit their stride, as first-year forward Cyrus Rollocks’ header hit the post, but was ineligible as the play was blown offside.

The fouls and intensity of the match increased along with Carleton’s presence in the attacking half. But as the referee signalled for the extra time break, both teams headed into the final fifteen hungry to be crowned the winner.

The Ravens were forced to take a tactical foul as Santos took on one of his signature runs down the wing. Fifth-year midfielder Gray Yates stepped up to take the free kick, intending to find the height of Rollocks or Bickford for a TMU goal. However, the OUA Midfielder of the Year’s ball was cleared and taken down the other way.

Carleton strided upfield with numbers and confidence. The ball was chipped over the TMU defence and the pass found the head of first-year forward Adam Ross, who was left all alone against Allison. His header was hit precisely to the short side to break the deadlock in the 115th minute of play.

After being level with the Ravens for nearly two hours, the Bold’s 2025 season depended entirely on how they played the remaining five minutes. TMU used all their remaining energy to try to keep the ball in play and in their favour but the Ravens continued the consistent defence they played with for the entirety of the game, this time in control of the scoreboard.

In utter desperation, Prostran was forced to send Allison up to attack, and after being dispossessed, the veteran goalkeeper took a flagrant sliding tackle, which resulted in a red card and his dismissal from the game.

In the end, the Bold were inefficient, concluding the night in a 1-0 win for Carleton and TMU’s elimination from the OUA playoffs.