Ridgebacks off to strong start ahead of challenging Week 3 schedule
Toronto, Ont. (via Ben Steiner) - For some OUA men’s soccer teams, it can take a little while to hit their stride in a season. In 2024, however, several teams have gotten off to strong starts, and parity might just shine down in the league.
After a downtown Toronto derby, it’s tough to call which of the GTA schools are in the best form in early season, and things are still looking positive for the Western Mustangs and Carleton Ravens, both of whom sit among the five undefeated teams in the OUA so far.
As programs begin to establish their early season identities, let’s get caught up on the latest in what is already proving to be a competitive campaign.
Toronto’s Niklas Hallam taking league by storm
It’s not very often a rookie does what Niklas Hallam is doing with the Toronto Varsity Blues. Through four games, the Victoria, B.C. native has six goals and has come up in big moments for head coach Ilya Orlov’s team, with Toronto boasting an 3-0-1 record.
Not the biggest striker, he bucks the trend of the tall, often physical players that have found goal-scoring success in recent history in the OUA. Rather, his finishing abilities paired with his tactical acumen off the ball is putting him in positions to make an outstanding impact early in his university career.
Up against the TMU Bold in Week 2, Hallam scored three and his runs into the Bold attack ends often drew defenders one way, before he would cut deeper, receive the ball and either finish himself, or play off another attacking player. He did it both in Friday’s clash at Varsity Stadium, a 3-2 win, and Sunday’s 2-1 loss at Downsview Park.
While the Bold got the better of the Varsity Blues in Sunday’s second game of a home-and-home weekend rivalry series, Hallam’s emergence has been nothing short of extraordinary for a program with lofty goals.
After an opening weekend hat-trick against the Trent Excalibur, and two strong performances against his team’s downtown rivals, Hallam will look to keep things up heading into Week 3 against the Queen’s Gaels and RMC Paladins.
Yes, it’s still early in the season and nothing has been proven just yet. But 10 years after midfielder Dalpo Afolayan struck lightning as a rookie in the OUA, Hallam is starting to do the same in attack. As for Afolayan? Catch him in the German top division, Bundesliga with FC St. Pauli.
Ontario Tech Ridgebacks look to prove legitimacy
The hosts of the 2024 U SPORTS Men’s Soccer Championship this fall, the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks, have gotten off to a near-perfect start to their new season, and despite a loss in the Campus Cup to the Durham College Lords, they are looking good.
A championship is a goal this season for the Ridgebacks, and with the way they’ve loaded up this year, it might just be the expectation. With experienced defender Jadon Vilfort back in the OUA after his years with the York Lions, and striker Kairo Coore returning to university soccer after standing out with Cape Breton University, there are many reasons to be optimistic about the group.
With a 5-0 win against the Nipissing Lakers and a 2-1 victory over the Queen’s Gaels in their back pocket, the Ridgebacks get set for a challenging weekend slate, as they face the reigning OUA champion Carleton Ravens and 2022 finalists TMU Bold.
Coore, in particular, hopes to carry over the strong start of his OUA career. The former Canadian Premier League player and AUS leading scorer has three goals in two matches to start the season and is a constant threat with his ability to finish on few chances.
Overall, the Ridgebacks entered this season with high expectations, and so far they’re delivering. Still, it hits a new level this weekend, where they will want to assert themselves as legitimate title contenders.
The Ridgebacks host Carleton on Saturday and TMU Sunday, with both games set for 3:15 pm ET.