Goals galore: Eagles win huge in second matchweek
The UTM Eagles swept Scarborough in a pair of high-scoring matches.
An unprecedented 16 goals, a double hat-trick, and back-to-back wins for the Eagles all took place this past weekend at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM)’s South Field.
UTM women’s find the net
On Sunday, our Eagles hosted the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) on matchday two of the tri-campus outdoor soccer season. The women’s team took to the field first, looking to bounce back after an unfortunate loss last week. They set the tone early with a brilliant start, scoring three goals in the first fifteen minutes.
The girls were eager for more, and they did so in style, ending the first half with a 5-0 lead. By that point, Captain Jordan Pawlowski had already scored a quadruple, with a mixture of long-range shots, dazzling solo runs, and precise finishing. Pawlowski added two in the second half, completing a double hat-trick, and surely cementing herself as UTM’s athlete of the week.
To top off a wonderful team performance, Princess Saladino bagged her second goal of the season, and freshman Amal Rashid found herself on the scoresheet with her first UTM goal to round out a massive 8-1 win.
After the game, The Medium asked Winger Laura Neira how her team was able to find their footing after a disappointing opening match. “We developed better chemistry, and our communication improved compared to last game,” said Neira. She also noted that the team was still adjusting in its opening fixture. “We started to learn how each other plays, and for a new team like us, that is a huge win.”
Men’s record biggest win in over five years
The men’s game was equally as exciting, as the Eagles soared to a comfortable 8-0 win in dominating fashion.
Star midfielder Cedric Ngounou opened the scoring after winning a penalty in the very first minute of the game and dispatching it calmly into the bottom-left corner. Minutes later, Chucks Ugori doubled the lead with a thumping header. It was both players’ first goal for UTM.
Aidan Gideon, who was honoured as Tri-Campus Performer of the Week and UTM Athlete of the Week after a dominating performance last match, got on the scoresheet to make it 3-0 before the cooling break. In-form Krish Chavan followed up, scoring UTM’s fourth after a brilliant solo dribble.
Jordan Hanswirth netted a fifth, and veteran midfielder Kushaall Mathew scored his first ever career goal for UTM on a blistering counter-attack.
“I’m very happy to get my first goal, but it’s more about the team effort today,” said Matthew, again demonstrating his experienced leadership and character.
Before the end of the half, Ngounou would add another brace, and when the ref whistled for the break, the scoreline read 7-0 in favor of the Eagles. When asked about the game and his goals, Ngounu later told The Medium, “It’s easy to score when I play with teammates like these.”
The second half was all about game management, something Coach Iyamabo had mentioned the team would want to improve after nearly giving up a 3-0 lead in last week’s game. The boys held possession, created chances and most importantly for Coach Iyamabo, kept a clean sheet.
“When you win 8-0 it’s hard to pick out one player in particular,” said Iyamabo. “But I want to give props to the backline for getting a clean sheet.”
In the dying minutes of the game, striker Kacper Ambrozevic notched his first tally of the season with a neat volley from inside the box. At the final whistle, the Eagles were met with a shower of applause from the fans for their team’s beautiful performance.
Next Sunday, the Eagles will be on the road, playing UTSG Reds at Varsity Stadium under the lights. Women’s kick off at 7:00 p.m. and men’s follow at 9:00 p.m.
Stay tuned for the report, and as always, go Eagles!
