TORONTO - Coming off a dominant 2-0 victory against Laurentian in Sudbury earlier in the weekend, the Rams men's soccer team hit the pitch again on a frigid Sunday at Downsview Park in search of their seventh victory of the season. In typical fashion, the Rams came out flying and trounced their northern opponents, taking the match by a score of 4-0.
In a wildly dominant first half, the Rams managed to get on the board first thanks to a perfectly placed shot in the 18th minute by Abdallah El-Chanti, who beat Laurentian goalkeeper Martin Dubé for his sixth goal of the season. Though it was the latest episode of a spectacular campaign for El-Chanti, he made it clear that his team's success always triumphs over his own.
"I don't care if we win 15-0 and I score zero goals," El-Chanti remarked. "As long as we win and get the three points, that's all that matters."
Later in the half, Luca Di Marco doubled the Rams' lead with a rocket that beat Dubé and sent the few but faithful Rams fans into an excited frenzy.
In 44th and 45th minutes, the floodgates opened for the Rams, as El-Chanti and Di Marco doubled the team's lead with their second goals of the game, effectively dampening any potential Voyageurs comeback.
"They're selfless," Rams head coach Filip Prostran remarked of his team's collaborative play this season. "They complement each other well."
In a second half that included the majority of the Rams' bench players on the pitch, goaltender Dante Ferraro kept things scoreless with a stunning diving save on a Laurentian free kick in the 56th minute and a string of solid late-game saves.
In the end, the Rams cruised to a well-earned victory that sets them up well for their final matches of the regular season. With confidence and a refined gameplan, the Rams will be tightening up their strategies and tactics as the postseason approaches, says their head coach.
"We need to focus on us," Prostran added. "Whoever comes in front of us, we just have to let the machine roll against them."
On Thursday the Rams will begin a two-game series at home against the pesky McMaster Marauders, who present the most legitimate challenge in their pursuit of the OUA Central division title. The first game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at Downsview Park before the Rams finish the regular season on the road in Hamilton on Sunday.
