OAKVILLE, Ont. - The Sheridan Bruins men's soccer team (5-0-4 OCAA) erupted for seven goals, matching the output of their previous three games combined, in a 7-0 triumph over UTM.
"We needed one like that," head coach Andrew Seuradge said. "All season long we've done a really good job of building attacks and just haven't had the quality needed in the attacking third to score a lot of goals. But we're at the point in the season where games tend to tighten up a little bit and you need to capitalize on every opportunity you get. Hopefully seeing the ball go in the back of the net a few times will build our confidence going into the end of the regular season and the playoffs."
Despite the pile of goals on the scoreboard at full time, it took more than a third of the game for the Bruins to strike. Cyrus Rollocks opened the scoring in the 35th minute, tapping into an open net after a UTM clearance attempt came right to his feet, following a save on Rahim Thorpe's initial shot.
Thorpe - who would go on to record a hat trick - scored his first one minute before halftime, flicking Manuel Morgado's free kick from just outside the box past UTM's Aaron Peters. He tacked on his second a minute into the second half, with Rollocks out-muscling his defender to win a ball and slid it back towards the six-yard box where Thorpe supplied the one-touch finish.
Diego Poveda supplied the fourth goal and Rollocks added a second to make it 5-0 before Thorpe completed his treble on the hour, threading a pass between two defenders for Rollocks who ran on to it, took a touch to turn his man, and laid it back off for Thorpe.
Sundin Esperance rounded out the scoring, began a counter-attack down the left wing, sending Thorpe in behind two defenders, and hanging back to receive the return pass.
It wasn't all offence for the Double Blue though, as Chester Ashby had to make a big save on a near break in the 83rd minute, while Jesse Bibby was there to head away the rebound attempt and preserve the clean sheet. It was Ashby's fourth shutout of the season.
Sheridan will close out the regular season on home turf against their rivals from Humber on Oct. 17 (4:30pm).
