TORONTO - The Rams men's soccer team put together one of their strongest performances of the year to open the OUA playoffs, knocking off the Waterloo Warriors 4-0 in quarter-final action on Wednesday night at Downsview Park.

Facing an unfamiliar and young opponent, the Rams looked to pressure the Warriors and capitalize on their chances. It didn't take long for the Rams to find an opening, as Christian Westlaken scored in the eighth minute to give the home side crowd something to celebrate early. It was Westlaken's first goal as a Ram, coming in his third season.

First year winger Justin Santos doubled the Rams lead in the 38th minute with a great individual effort. Taking the ball from midfield all the way down the left flank, Santos cut towards the goalie and curled a shot into the back of the net on the short side. His goal gave the Rams a boost of confidence heading into the final moments of the first half, which ended with the Rams holding onto their 2-0 advantage after 45 minutes.

The Rams kept the pressure on in the second half, earning insurance tallies from Westlaken in the 54th minute and Sean Fafinski in the 74th.

Despite the deficit, the Warriors continued to search for a goal and finished the game outshooting the Rams 10-7. 

The No. 5 nationally ranked Rams will now turn their attention to the No. 3 ranked York Lions who won their quarter-final match 1-0 over the Toronto Varsity Blues. The Rams and Lions last met in 2018 when the Lions earned a 1-0 win in the OUA semifinal. The Rams will look to flip the script this time around with a berth in the OUA championship on the line.

The semifinal is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. kickoff at York Lions Stadium on Saturday, November 6.