By Steve Petrick
If winning in soccer takes a team effort, the Rams should know that to win they have to have their whole team on the field.
The Ryerson men’s soccer team did not have that luxury in the second half against Carleton last Saturday as to players combined for four red cards and were sent home early.
The shorthanded Rams gave up two second-half goals to lose the crucial game 2-0.
However, the next day the Rams rediscovered the other element to winning: scoring goals.
They snapped a three-game goal-scoring drought and unloaded on the Trent Excalibur, 4-1.
The weekend split puts the Rams at 2-8, sixth in the ieght-team league. With five games left, they are eight points back out of a playoff spot, which means their odds of making it are about as good as Canada winning the World Cup.
That doesn’t faze coach Stuart Miller.
“It’s an uphill battle, but I’m not giving up hope for the playoffs,” Miller said. “The monkey’s off our back after this weekend.”
Jason Egresits ended the scoreless streak against Trent when he tied the game at one in the first half Sunday in Peterborough.
Egresits then headed in his second goal of the game to make a 2-1 in the second.
Then a missed penalty shot by a Trent player sparked the Rams to score two more. Both were by Ivano DeLuca. Miller described the first as a beautiful left foot blast set up by Cy Paul.
Now that the Rams have started to score, they may want to stop getting cards.
More cards were handed out Saturday than at our Christmas party. Nello DeLuca received two as did Matthew Clark — one for them for mouthing off. Three others received yellows.
“It’s just frustration,” says Miller, defending his team. “I don’t condone it but the frustration I understand.” The coach had a long chat with officials after Saturday’s game.
The Rams’ next game is Sunday, Oct. 10 at York.
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