By Santiago Ortega

In their first fixture as East division leaders of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) standings, the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) men’s soccer team secured a 3-1 win against the Carleton University Ravens on Sunday afternoon.

In their last meeting, the teams faced off in the quarterfinals of last year’s OUA playoffs. After the match went into extra time, the Bold fell to the Ravens, conceding just one goal and, with it, their championship contention.

“They’ve been our greatest rival for the past decade…It’s always a pleasure playing them,” said TMU head coach Filip Prostran.

Both teams came into the matchup aware of this year’s heavy playoff implications. A handful of fouls in the first 14 minutes led to TMU’s fourth-year forward Exosse Kadiebue receiving the first yellow card of the match.

Just before halftime, Kadiebue broke the deadlock, taking a pass from second-year defender Hazim Kadib just outside the box. Dribbling past two defenders, he smashed a shot into the top-right corner to put TMU up 1-0 going into the break.

“I’ve just been training. The physio, they’ve been amazing getting me prepared. I’ve been a little injured…hats off to the physio,” Kadiebue said.

In the 58th minute, TMU nearly doubled their lead after a botched save from second-year Carleton goalkeeper Nathan Frans led to a rebound. Third-year defender Luc Ihama quickly shot it past the keeper, but it was flagged offside. 

Carleton capitalized quickly in the 66th minute as a pass from the left side through the box found second-year full back Anthony Aweya on the far right side. Aweya, subbed in just five minutes earlier, forewent a touch and slotted the equalizer past fifth-year Bold goalkeeper Dante Ferraro.

Carleton nearly took the lead in the 83rd minute when second-year midfielder Xavier-Etienne Patry met a free-kick cross with a scissor kick, but Ferraro leapt up and sent it over the crossbar. In the ensuing corner, Carleton lost possession, gifting Kadiebue a through ball all alone. Raven first-year right back, Anthony Nonez, grabbed him from behind, drew jeers from the TMU bench and supporters, and picked up a red card in the process.

With a man advantage and seven to play, TMU sent everything forward in search of the tiebreaker but nothing came of it. 

In added time, TMU third-year midfielder Aidan Hugo received a pass from fourth-year defender Nabil Hakim outside the box. After a deflected shot from a Carleton defender, Hugo sent it into the bottom left corner, sealing TMU’s long-awaited victory.

“I figured why not try to cut in, shoot the ball, see what happens? Luckily, it took a little lucky bounce and went my way,” Hugo said.

Prostran hailed Hugo’s contributions on the pitch.

“Today, his defensive work [was] great. Winning tackles, hitting people, tracking back. It’s something he’s capable of,” said Prostran.

The win keeps TMU atop the OUA East standings with 19 points, two clear of U of T with a game in hand. Ahead of the squad’s next four matchups, optimism is rife throughout the locker room.

“We’re ready for anything,” said Kadiebue.

UP NEXT: TMU will face the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks for their second-to-last home-field fixture of the regular season on Oct. 9. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:15 p.m.