The Varsity Blues return to the field with confidence and determination in 2010. With 12 players returning, Toronto is set to battle with Ontario’s finest before meeting the top teams in the country when they host the 2010 CIS men’s soccer championships, November 11-14, at Varsity Centre.

“We are very excited for the upcoming season,” said head coach Anthony Capotosto. “We are fortunate to have such a special opportunity to compete for a national title on our home field, which is something that does not happen very often. We have a great group of student-athletes that are working hard to prepare for a long and successful season and our team outcome goals remain the same every year; OUA and CIS gold.”

U of T ended their 2009 campaign in first place in the East division with an 11-1-2 record and went on to earn the OUA silver medal at home. At the national championship in Langley, B.C., the Blues finished just off the podium, losing in penalty kicks to the eventual bronze medalist and host Trinity Western Spartans.

Leading the way once again is team co-captain and 2009 CIS all-Canadian Yannis Gianniotis. The fourth-year defender scored four goals in 14 games and helped Toronto to the fewest goals against (6) in Canada last season.

Fellow co-captains Darrah McGee and Alexander Raphael will be called upon to lead the midfield and strikers, respectively. A native of Donegral, Ireland, McGee played an integral role in Toronto’s success last season and has third-year Geoffrey Borgmann and incoming midfielder Ezequiel Lubocki to help lead the Blues transition game.

OUA all-star strikers Raphael and Nordo Gooden scored seven and eight goals, respectively, accounting for half of Toronto’s offensive output in 2009. They will be joined by rookie Mario Kovacevic who has good technical ability and adds size and skill to the Blues attack.

Goalkeeper John Smits will assume the role of starting goalkeeper for the second consecutive season. Smits amassed a CIS-high 11 shutouts in regular season action last year.

The Varsity Blues open their season on the road Labour Day weekend against the Nipissing Lakers on Sept. 3 and Laurentian Voyageurs on Sept. 4. U of T returns to Varsity Centre for their home opener on Saturday, September 11 versus Queen’s. Game time is scheduled for 3:15 p.m.

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