By Francesco Cautillo

The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) women’s soccer team faced off against the Nipissing University Lakers at Downsview Park on Saturday, earning a 2-1 victory in their home-opener match.

“We found a little bit of luck, but I thought that we were bought in from the beginning of the week to the end of the week,” said head coach John Yacou.

Despite being winless on the road, the squad looked promising in their two matches, falling late to the provincial champions at the University of Toronto and claiming a point against Ontario Tech. 

The Bold face a familiar foe in the Lakers, falling to them in a seven-goal playoff showdown last year. Yacou commented on this rematch, explaining that “things have changed; they’ve got new players, we’ve got new players. The message was ‘don’t shy away from the moment.’”

As the starting whistle blew, TMU burst up the pitch with a high press, drawing early mistakes and attacking chances from the Nipissing defence. This strategy paid off for the Bold, as fourth-year midfielder Becca Bartosh picked up a crucial interception in the opposing box before placing it past the Lakers keeper, taking the lead after just over five minutes.

Bartosh credited the “great direction from the coach and great pressure from the girls” after slotting away her second goal in three games.

With the Lakers desperate for a response, eyes looked towards their third-year midfielder Kailey Hill, who quickly counter-attacked down the pitch for the equalizing goal. Unfortunately for the away side, the strike was called offside, and TMU continued to hold the advantage.

End-to-end action filled Downsview Park as the two sides created their chances for the game’s second goal, with Nipissing taking the majority of these chances. Fourth-year goalkeeper Elisa Paolucci proved confident in her zone, charging out and sliding towards any bit of chance that the Lakers forwards gave her.

The first 45 minutes came to a close, and the Bold maintained their narrow 1-0 lead, preparing themselves for the impending opposing attack as the second half waned closer.

TMU’s once aggressive tactics shifted to a more conservative playstyle, as the midfielders began to drop back and support the back four defenders. However, the Bold were still able to flex their attacking prowess on set pieces such as corner kicks.

This time, it was Bold third-year defender Anna Ciumaciova, who correctly judged this high cross from the corner, hitting the ball off the bounce and past the Lakers keeper for a two-goal TMU lead.

The 75th minute approached. Now down by two goals, Nipissing struggled to find chances, as well as the confidence to get themselves back into the match.

TMU persisted in possession, focusing on draining time and closing out their first victory of the season. With fresh substitutes headed onto the field, a new sense of physicality and stamina energized the Bold.

Although Paolucci stopped multiple late chances from the Lakers in efforts to save her clean sheet, third-year forward Hannah Neville was able to put Nipissing on the scoreboard with a goal in the final minutes.

In the end, it proved to be merely a consolation strike from Neville, as the final whistle blew, sealing TMU’s first victory of the season. 

UP NEXT: The Bold take on the Queen’s University Gaels on Sept. 13th. The away game takes place at Richardson Stadium, and kick-off is set for 1 p.m.