AROUND OUA: Rams offence makes up for a pair of defensive lapses
TORONTO - The No. 2 nationally ranked Ryerson Rams men's soccer team put on a display offensively on Wednesday, netting five goals for a 5-2 victory over the UOIT Ridgebacks at Downsview Park.
SCOREBOARD
Rams offence makes up for a pair of defensive lapses
TORONTO - The No. 2 nationally ranked Ryerson Rams men's soccer team put on a display offensively on Wednesday, netting five goals for a 5-2 victory over the UOIT Ridgebacks at Downsview Park.
Sophomore Raheem Rose (Etobicoke, Ont.) scored twice to lead the Rams offence. Rose opened the scoring in the 31st minute and added the Rams' fifth and final goal of the game in the 90th minute.
After controlling ball possession and capitalizing on Rose's goal, the Rams looked in control to head into halftime with a 1-0 lead. However, a hand ball gave the Ridgebacks a penalty kick which Erik Petrovic converted to tie things up at 1-1 in the 45th minute.
The Rams offence found their rhythm in the second half, scoring four times to take control of the match. Jackson Tooke (Toronto) netted his first of the season in the 60th minute to give the Rams a 2-1 lead.
Nick Lambis (Pickering, Ont.) followed that up with his fourth tally of the year in the 71st minute to extend the lead to 3-1 before captain Martin Dabrowski (Barrie, Ont.) took a beautiful strike off the post and in to make it 4-1 in the 81st minute.
UOIT was awarded their second penalty kick of the game late which Petrovic converted once again to make it 4-2 in the 85th minute before Rose struck again to round out the scoring.
Despite the offensive output, coach Filip Prostran took the game as a time to reiterate the importance of defensive focus.
"We were poorly disciplined defensively, giving up two silly penalty kicks and we let the team back in the game where I don't think they should have," said Prostran following the game. "We started the preseason with 99% of the focus on defence, our defensive zone and principles. We've gone away from it for probably about two and a half weeks and it shows. We can't get away from that defensive work, our bread and butter, just because we like to move the ball (offensively)."
The Rams improve to 5-0-1 on the season to remain at the top of the OUA East division standings while UOIT falls to 2-2-1 on the year. Ryerson is back in action this Saturday when they host the RMC Paladins at 3:15 p.m. at Downsview Park Field 3.
Blues register big win over Excalibur
The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's soccer team began a big three-game home stand with a 3-1 over the Trent Excalibur on Wednesday (Sept. 16) night at Varsity Centre.
The Varsity Blues opened the scoring in the 18th minute when third-year midfielder Antonio Ajhert connected on a hard shot that found the back of the net. The goal marked the first of the season for the Makarska, Croatia native.
Trent responded in the 34th minute as Carl Deabren rocketed a strike from outside the 18-yard box, which sailed just over the outstretched arms of Blues keeper Mark Rogal. The game was tied 1-1 at the half.
Both teams exchanged chances early in the second half but it would be Blues striker Nirun Sivananthan who ended the deadlock with a spectacular goal in the 76th minute.
Fellow leading Blues scorer Dakar Charles would follow suit in the 81st minute, cashing in on a rebound to extend the Toronto lead to 3-1.
The Varsity Blues will look to ride the early week momentum into back-to-back games over the weekend as they are set to host the Queen's Gaels on Saturday, September 19 and RMC on Sunday, September 20. Both games will kick-off at 3:15 p.m. at Varsity Centre.
Source: Toronto Varsity Blues
