Rams gear up for Battle of Toronto in OUA semifinal

TORONTO - With just four teams left in the league, the Ryerson Rams will engage in a best-of-three series this week against their crosstown rival Toronto Varsity Blues.

After sweeping the Brock Badgers, the Rams are the lowest seed remaining in contention compared to the top-seeded Blues. However, the fifth-seeded Ryerson was the only team to upset their higher-seeded opponents in the quarter-finals, defeating the fourth-seeded Badgers.

Both the Rams and Blues are entering the semis with some momentum. After sweeping Guelph, Toronto has collected an eight-game winning streak dating back to the regular season, while Ryerson has won their last five.

"I definitely think we're the underdog in this next series, and (can) use that to our advantage. We can be a more hard-working team, and beat (Toronto) skilled-wise," said reigning athlete of the week Brooklyn Gemmill (Cambridge, Ont.) after Saturday's sweep.

Gemmill, along with forwards Olivia Giardetti (Whitby, Ont.) and Erika Crouse (Kirkland Lake, Ont.), has formed a powerful offensive trio in these playoffs, putting up three points each. Gemmill has scored both game-winning goals for the Rams so far, with each of the tallies coming on the Rams' OUA-best playoff power play.

Earning a star of the week mention herself, Giardetti has shown off her hands as well, opening the scoring in both games against Brock while adding an assist.

"I think as a team we're doing a really good job at sticking together and individually, that gives everybody a lot of confidence. U of T finished first so it's going to be a tough game. No matter what happens, we're going to give it our all," said Giardetti last weekend.

Meanwhile, Crouse has stepped back from her goal scoring side, serving up three assists despite leading the league with 15 goals in the regular season.

Complimenting the Rams best power play unit is their OUA-best penalty kill unit. Despite being short-handed a second-highest fourteen times, Ryerson has yet to allow a power play goal these playoffs. Meanwhile, spurred by Gemmill's heroics, the power play unit has operated near forty percent, going 3-for-8 in the quarter-finals.

Ryerson's special teams were sporadic throughout the regular season, with their penalty kill finishing third-last in the OUA. "Every season has its peaks and valleys. There was a stretch there where obviously we didn't win as many games as we were used to, (but) it doesn't mean that we were not playing well," said head coach Lisa Haley on Saturday.

"I think U of T has a very similar style of play as Brock. We've played them (Toronto) a lot this year, so I think we're fairly familiar with their style of play," added the coach.

The Rams have suffered against Toronto this season, going 0-2-0 in the regular season. However, while the Blues swept the eighth-seeded Guelph Gryphons in the first round, both games went to overtime. Toronto has gone 1-for-13 on the power play, but has been shorthanded just six times, allowing a single power play goal against.

In net, Ryerson's Rachel Seeley (Ottawa, Ont.) is evenly matched with Toronto's Erica Fryer. Seeley's 1.33 goals-against average (GAA), .947 save percentage, and 54 saves is right behind Fryer's 1.20 GAA, .948 save percentage, and 55 saves.

Puck drop for game one is set at 7:00 p.m. at Varsity Arena in Toronto before heading back to Mattamy Home Ice for game two at 7:15 p.m on Saturday. If necessary, game three will head back to Varsity Arena on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. Students can attend the last home hockey game of the year for free with their OneCard and stream the other games live at OUA.TV.

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Players Mentioned

#9 Brooklyn Gemmill: F; 5' 4"; 3

#12 Olivia Giardetti: F; 5' 4"; 3

#22 Erika Crouse: F; 5' 3"; 2

#34 Rachel Seeley: G; 5' 8"; 4

Players Mentioned

#9 Brooklyn Gemmill
: 5' 4"; 3
: F

#12 Olivia Giardetti
: 5' 4"; 3
: F

#22 Erika Crouse
: 5' 3"; 2
: F

#34 Rachel Seeley
: 5' 8"; 4
: G