OSHAWA, Ont – The Ontario Tech men's soccer team is off to the OUA final four after beating the TMU Bold 5-4 on penalty kicks.

The Ridgebacks opened the scoring with a goal from Jacob Begley (Markham, Ont.) in the fifth minute of the game in what would quickly turn to be a physical one. Ridgebacks leading goal scorer, Omar Marzouk (Cairo, Egpyt) collided mid-air with Allesandro Prataviera (Woodbridge, Ont.) midway through the first half and left Marzouk with a cut on his nose that saw him escorted to the hospital for examination. 

Former Ridgebacks Christopher Campoli would find the equalizer just before half to knot it up at one goal a piece.

Each team found chances in the second half, with Kevon Grant (Whitby, Ont.) making several diving saves to keep the Ridgebacks hopes alive. Ontario Tech also nearly saw deciding goals from Matthew Keeler (Thunder Bay, Ont.) and Brett Springer (Bramberg, Ont.) in the dying minutes of the game.

Throughout the extra time, neither team found the back of the net, setting up an familiar scenario of penalty kicks to decide the Ridgebacks fate. The Ridgebacks nailed all four of their first penalty kicks, and Campoli would stand as the lone miss for the Bold through their first four, setting up Jack Sears (Ajax, Ont.) to finalize the win by burying the final and disisive penalty to kick to advance Ontario Tech.

The Ridgebacks will now play on Wednesday with a time to be determined.