Knowing they would be in tough, the Nipissing Lakers men's soccer team did all they could to hold down the powerful Toronto Varsity Blues Sunday afternoon.

Toronto entered the game having won four in a row and sitting tied second place in the East Division, while the Lakers needed a bounce back from Saturday's loss.

In the end, Nipissing couldn't hold the third best offence in the East down for the entire game, surrendering three goals in the final 22 minutes, as Toronto picked up the 3-0 victory.

Toronto scored their first goal and eventual winner, in the 68th minute.

They added an insurance goal just over 10 minutes later and sealed the win with a 90th minute goal off a rebound.

Grainger Munro finished with eight saves for Nipissing, who was now lost three in a row.

Max Melnychenko had the one Lakers shot on goal, while he and Ryan Roy each had to attempts on goal.

The loss sends the Lakers to 1-8-1 on the season, but they remain only six points – or two wins – out of a playoff position and they'll play the two teams they're chasing for the final spot this weekend.

UOIT holds down the final playoff spot, with Trent five points behind them and the Lakers six back.

Nipissing will travel to Oshawa Saturday to battle UOIT, finishing off the weekend with a game versus Trent on Sunday.

If the Lakers are able to pick up two wins, plus a favourable decision from some other games, a season that hasn't gone the way they would like, can flip pretty quick.

Two wins, plus two losses by UOIT put the Lakers in a tie for the final playoff spot – the goal from the start of the season.

It won't be easy, but the task ahead of them is simple enough.

Following this weekend's road games, Nipissing returns home for four straight to close out the season, which starts with a game versus Ryerson on Oct. 15.