History to make and a drought to break
UTM Men’s Soccer sets their sights on a legendary three-peat, while the women’s team aims to secure their first championship in three years.
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With the University of Toronto Mississauga’s (UTM) Men’s Tri-Campus soccer team winning back-to-back tri-campus championships over the past two seasons, the 2026 campaign provides the iconic, intimidating, but greatly rewarding task of completing the three-peat. All of the most iconic sports teams measure their success in threes. FC Barcelona won three trophies in one season during the early 2008-2009 season, the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup three seasons in a row between 1962 and 1964, and the Los Angeles Lakers replicated that feat but in the NBA during the early 2000s.
Work to be done
Although the achievements of the past two seasons cannot be underestimated, the Eagles will be hoping to write their names into the history books of not just UTM sports, but University of Toronto sports as a whole. In order to do that, the men’s team all but needs to secure that third consecutive trophy. Many key players have graduated and left the team leaving big holes in the squad.
Zeki Lopes, first-year student in the management course at UTM recently tried out for the team and is hoping to bring fresh life to the squad. “I hope to bring a lot of effort, dedication, and positivity to the team,” he shared with us. Despite key losses in important areas going into the 2026 season, it has been hard for first-year students to break into teams throughout the years, dominated by older players. “I believe my chances of making the team are relatively low, given the high level of [experience from the other] players. However, I won’t rule out my chances, considering how hard I’ve worked and how dedicated I am,” Lopes added.
Dedication is exactly what the Eagles will be in search of this season. After having already climbed the hill of victory twice, having the same determination and will to win is hard to come across. Even professional sports teams going on a three season championship streak is notoriously rare for this reason. For example, only one team in the history of the Champions League has won the competition three seasons in a row: Real Madrid.
With a desire to prove himself and aspirations of championship glory, Lopes understands the positive impact being on the team could have on the team and himself. “Making the team would mean a lot to me because it would give me the opportunity to compete and be part of a team. It would also be a great way to meet people, make friends, and represent the school,” said Lopes.
Scores to settle
After a controversial defeat at the hands of U of T Scarborough in last season’s women’s tri-campus final, the Eagles will be looking to enact their revenge on their Scarberian rivals in the opening game of the 2026 season, a game that has already taken place at the time of publication. Like the men’s team, the women’s squad has changed with players graduating and new faces entering the roster.
It was back in the 2023 season that the women’s tri-campus soccer team lifted the championship trophy, a trophy that marked back-to-back championships after a stellar season winning seven of their eight games played. They’ll need a similarly impressive record this season to compete with the talented St. George and Scarborough teams.
Both the men’s and women’s tri-campus teams kicked-off their season over the weekend. The UTM men’s next match is away from home against St. George’s Red on September 27 at 2:15 p.m. The women’s team will play a couple hours earlier against the same opponent on the same pitch. So, if you want to make the most of your commute and represent UTM with pride, tune into both games and enjoy what is set to be an action packed weekend of football.
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