TORONTO — In what shaped up to be a crucial matchup with vital postseason implications, the Ryerson Rams earned a 1-0 victory over the Carleton Ravens on Saturday afternoon at Downsview Park in Toronto.
The Rams now improve to a 5-4-2 record on the year, still sitting fifth in the OUA East with 17 points on the season.
A scoreless first half saw the play dominated by the Rams, but the team found themselves unable to capitalize on their top-notch opportunities. Shots sent straight into the chest of the Carleton keeper and strong defensive play down the middle hindered the Rams from getting on the board in the first half.
Much of the second half sang a similar tune. The Rams continued to dominate and held possession for a vast majority of the final 45 minutes. The tie was eventually broken in the 79th minute by second-year Rams defender Kaleigh McKye (Toronto, Ont.); BreAnah Webster (Pickering, Ont.) crossed the ball straight to the feet of McKye, who made no mistake putting the ball short side on the Ravens' keeper.
McKye's 79th-minute goal was her first of the season and the eventual game-winner.
"It was amazing," says McKye on the goal. "I do that at practice and on my own time and it just felt amazing, it was everything I've worked for this summer.
"We play for each other, and the fact that I was able to do that for my teammates, it felt amazing."
The final 10 minutes of the game was quite the battle, but it was the Rams who prevailed to earn the crucial three points in the one-goal victory over Carleton.
"It wasn't an easy win but we did it," says Rams head coach Natalie Bukovec. "It was so nice to see Kaleigh get the game-winner [...] We put her on for that reason, to bring some energy and because she can run for days."
"We have to beat Carleton twice [to get to playoffs] and we got the first win today," adds McKye.
Ryerson goalkeeper Elisa Lapadula (Brampton, Ont.) made one save in her fourth clean sheet performance of the season.
With just two games remaining in the regular season, the 2019 playoff push is in full swing and the Rams are on the verge of returning to the postseason for the first time since 2017. And, with the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks and the Trent Excalibur within striking distance, the team will need to grab some crucial points in their next pair of games to secure their spot in the 2019 playoffs.
The Rams will be back in action on Sunday afternoon against the No. 1 Ottawa Gee-Gees in their final home game of the regular season. The team will be celebrating the careers of their graduating seniors prior to the 1:00 p.m. kick-off.
