TORONTO - With the OUA Central division title clinched, the Rams men's soccer team heads to the postseason with ample energy and significant momentum. Their path to the Blackwood Cup won't be an easy one, but their position improved significantly with home field advantage secured for the quarter-final from winning the division. 

On Wednesday, the Rams will host the Waterloo Warriors in the OUA quarter-final at Downsview Park. The Warriors, who compete in the OUA West division and played to a record of 6-2-2, finished the season with 20 points. Should the Rams emerge victorious, they will face the winner of the quarter-final involving the York Lions and Toronto Varsity Blues.

Overall, the Rams finished their regular season with 25 points and a stellar record of 8-1-1. In their last six matches, they outscored their opponents 22-4 and notched five wins. 

The Rams will depend on the exceptionally potent trio of Justin Santos, Zakaria Abdi, and Abdallah El-Chanti to supply their offence, while leaning on steady defenders Kai Martin and Mohamad Abdallah to keep opposing teams at bay. On the other side, Waterloo's Sebastian Guerrieri figures to be a central part of the Warriors' offence, the likes of which has scored 19 goals this season compared with the Rams' 28.

Like the Rams, the Warriors have excelled at keeping opposing teams off the scoresheet; the Rams have allowed just eight goals against this season while the Warriors have allowed just seven. The Rams have had more shots over the course of the season—123 compared to the Warriors' 62—and led the OUA in corners taken.

Notably, this matchup will mark the first time the Rams will play against the Warriors since way back in 2001 when they shared a division. 

Kick-off goes at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday and Ryerson students, faculty, and staff can attend for free.