Last Sunday, the Eagles faced off against George Brown’s Huskies in a demanding game, losing 5-1. They then went on to face the Humber’s Hawks last Tuesday, where they experienced a nightmare, hoping to never again finish a game with the same result.
UTM Eagles men’s varsity soccer team had a challenging week, but the fans and players aren’t discouraged. “I feel like we’ve gotten better each game, playing-wise and chemistry-wise,” says Dimitrios Gogos, UTM’s defensive captain.
During Sunday’s game, both teams fought hard for possession of the game. There was a total of nine yellow cards given out—five yellow cards came from George Brown, and four came from UTM. In the end, the Huskies had the upper hand.
On Tuesday, the Eagles lost 9-0 against the Hawks, which was due partly to the Hawks’ unforgiving offense. Humber took 23 shots, while UTM took only four.
“We just have to keep our focus throughout the whole 90 minutes of the game if we want to be successful,” Gogos said of what he thinks needs to happen for future wins. He went on to say that if the Eagles focus throughout the game, they will make it to the top.
In regards to his feelings towards changes in the team’s strategy, Gogos replied, “There aren’t any changes really, just a lot of preparation for the last part of the season.” The Eagles squad have plenty of young players that have never played in the league, so practice will be the key to refining their skills.
Giovanni McDonald, the assistant coach of the men’s varsity soccer team also commented on the performance. “Both games showed a lack of mental intensity. There was more mental strength displayed against George Brown, but in both games, the team suffered from not being able to compete fully due to injuries.”
“As a coaching staff, we like to motivate our players no matter what, and we are very approachable,” he continued, addressing the main goal of the coaching staff.
The Eagles are ready for their next challenge, and won’t give up without a fight. “We need to start getting results,” says McDonald.
Currently, the Eagles sit in last place in the OCAA Central division with a record of 0-5. The Eagles play Seneca College in two out of their next three games. Seneca has yet to score a goal this season, so UTM has an opportunity to bump themselves up in the standings and gain some confidence going forward.
After their Sunday October 2 home game against Seneca, the Eagles play their next home game on October 16 at 3:15 p.m. against Niagara College.
