September 17, 2009
RAMS SOLID IN 1-1 DRAW AGAINST VARSITY BLUES IN WOMEN'S SOCCER
TORONTO - Playing under the lights at Lamport Stadium on Wednesday night, the Ryerson Rams women's soccer team held off a late-charging University of Toronto Varsity Blues team to earn a point in a 1-1 draw.
The Rams, who led at halftime, used strong defending and solid goaltending by fourth-year veteran Michelle Smiciklas (Oakville, Ont.) to hold Toronto to a lone second half goal and earn their single point.
Toronto held the early momentum and had first half chances in Ryerson's end. Forward Christina Fantozzi (Richmond Hill, Ont.) got close a couple of times, firing wide once and getting stopped by Smiciklas on another. Jessica Fantozzi (Richmond Hill, Ont.) also had a couple shots on net with Smiciklas keeping the ball out. Smiciklas had a handful of first half saves, including a nice stop on a partial breakaway by Toronto.
Ryerson also had their chances in the first half and in the 14th minute, found the back of the net on a highlight reel goal. Calaigh Copland (Peterborough, Ont.) and Andrea Raso (Toronto) worked a very nice give-and-go with Copland streaking in alone on the Toronto keeper and finding the back of the net. Copland made a smooth touch pass to Raso off a Smiciklas dropkick and then raced past two Blues defenders and received the ball back from Raso, scoring to give the Rams an early lead.
In the second half Toronto again started to press hard offensively. The Rams, led by Meagan Blodgett (Peterborough, Ont.) and Hyacinth Bouchard (Toronto, Ont.), did a good job defending the offensive pressure, and keeping the lead intact.
The Blues did eventually break through late in the game when Erica Basso (King City, Ont.) netted a goal off a scrum after a Toronto corner kick. After Smiciklas made the original save for Ryerson, Basso found the ball close in and punched it in to tie the game in the 70th minute.
Toronto continued to press, looking for a late lead, but Smiciklas came through with some solid saves to preserve the draw for the Rams.
"It was a great result for us. Toronto is a great team," said Rams head coach Peyvand Mossavat. "We did well and I was very pleased."
With the tie, Ryerson's record moves to 0-2-3, while Toronto sees its record go to 2-0-2. The Rams will look for their first win of the season when they take on Trent and Carleton this Saturday and Sunday at Lamport Stadium.
Source: Ryerson Rams
The Rams, who led at halftime, used strong defending and solid goaltending by fourth-year veteran Michelle Smiciklas (Oakville, Ont.) to hold Toronto to a lone second half goal and earn their single point.
Toronto held the early momentum and had first half chances in Ryerson's end. Forward Christina Fantozzi (Richmond Hill, Ont.) got close a couple of times, firing wide once and getting stopped by Smiciklas on another. Jessica Fantozzi (Richmond Hill, Ont.) also had a couple shots on net with Smiciklas keeping the ball out. Smiciklas had a handful of first half saves, including a nice stop on a partial breakaway by Toronto.
Ryerson also had their chances in the first half and in the 14th minute, found the back of the net on a highlight reel goal. Calaigh Copland (Peterborough, Ont.) and Andrea Raso (Toronto) worked a very nice give-and-go with Copland streaking in alone on the Toronto keeper and finding the back of the net. Copland made a smooth touch pass to Raso off a Smiciklas dropkick and then raced past two Blues defenders and received the ball back from Raso, scoring to give the Rams an early lead.
In the second half Toronto again started to press hard offensively. The Rams, led by Meagan Blodgett (Peterborough, Ont.) and Hyacinth Bouchard (Toronto, Ont.), did a good job defending the offensive pressure, and keeping the lead intact.
The Blues did eventually break through late in the game when Erica Basso (King City, Ont.) netted a goal off a scrum after a Toronto corner kick. After Smiciklas made the original save for Ryerson, Basso found the ball close in and punched it in to tie the game in the 70th minute.
Toronto continued to press, looking for a late lead, but Smiciklas came through with some solid saves to preserve the draw for the Rams.
"It was a great result for us. Toronto is a great team," said Rams head coach Peyvand Mossavat. "We did well and I was very pleased."
With the tie, Ryerson's record moves to 0-2-3, while Toronto sees its record go to 2-0-2. The Rams will look for their first win of the season when they take on Trent and Carleton this Saturday and Sunday at Lamport Stadium.
Source: Ryerson Rams
