University of Toronto Mississauga soccer fans who showed up expecting to watch the Eagles take on the University of Toronto's St. George Reds on September 27 got a surprise instead: the fixture had quietly been changed, and the online schedule was never updated.
According to The Medium, the change had been made a week before the season began, but many people were unaware the matchup had been scrapped. Instead, the UTSG women's and men's intramural teams — the Blues and the Reds — played a doubleheader at Varsity Field, with the women's match kicking off at 12 p.m. and the men's game following at 2:15 p.m.
The women's game stayed level through most of the first half, with the Blues generating chances but running into a stubborn Reds defence. Just when a goalless opening 45 minutes looked likely, the Reds converted a corner in the 42nd minute through Anna Li. Two minutes later, with the Blues pressing for an equalizer, the Reds struck from another corner, with Justina Snow making it 2-0.
The Blues pushed hard for a way back after the break, pinning the Reds in their own end for long stretches, but the second half finished without another goal. The Reds held on for a 2-0 win.
Blues captain Charlotte Burgess said her side "battled well" despite the loss, telling The Medium that the Reds "really got us on the corners." She added that the team "will improve" ahead of upcoming fixtures.
The men's match followed a similar early script. The Reds went ahead in the 10th minute through Adam Coderniz, and Jerry Duan doubled the lead in the 18th minute — a goal some Blues supporters in the stands believed should have been ruled offside, though the referee let it stand.
The Blues clawed one back in the 31st minute when Julian Silvestry found the net, and he struck again in the 53rd minute to complete his brace and level the match at 2-2. Both teams pushed for a winner as the intensity rose and yellow cards were handed out, but the Reds' defence repeatedly turned away Blues free kicks and attacks.
The men's match finished in a 2-2 draw — a result that frustrated Reds captain Alex Picanco, who told The Medium, "We played like crap… we could have done better." He noted the draw stung more given the Reds' previous fixture had also ended 2-2, and said the team's focus going forward is "just winning" and avoiding further draws or losses.
For UTM supporters, the takeaway was simpler: check the schedule early and often. The Eagles' expected appearance at Varsity Field never materialized, and the outdated listing meant many learned of the change only after arriving at the field.
