WOMEN WIN FIRST GAME SINCE 2002

by Josh Wingrove
Sports editor

Three years of futility came to an end Saturday night as the Rams women’s soccer team won their first game of the season, beating McMaster University 2-1.

“I think they believed it would come eventually,” said coach Peyvand Mossavat. “They needed that one win to understand what it feels like.”

Players were relieved to get the three-year weight off the team’s collective shoulders.

“It felt good. We needed it,” said Shannon Ferreira, who scored the Rams’ two goals. “I think it was a confidence booster.”

The Rams’ last win was Sept. 14, 2002, when they were awarded a default victory over McMaster.

“Everybody was definitely excited,” said Rams rookie Anwaar Hsan of last weekend’s win.

Ferreira’s two goals earned her Ontario University Athletics’s Female Athlete of the Week honours. The speedy Ferreira got behind the defence for both her goals.

“Both of them were breakaways,” said the first-year Diploma in Arts student. “I beat the last defender. The goalie came out to slide and I just touched it in.”

“Without her breakaways, I don’t think we would have had the lead,” Hsan said.

The Rams followed up their win with a 0-0 draw against Guelph Sunday afternoon. The three points puts the Rams within reach of a previously unheard-of playoff spot. They will need a win at home against Brock University next Saturday.

“I think the fact that we’re in a spot that this could be a historical night, it would get the kids to think twice about everything they’re going to do,” Mossavat said.

“We have the opportunity to fight for a playoff spot.”

Brock has already secured first place in the Rams’ division. A Ryerson win and a Guelph loss will send the Rams to the post-season.

“We need Guelph to lose and us to win because they’re only one point ahead of us,” Hsan said.

“For Brock, a win is a win. They’ve clinched first place,” Mossavat said.

The players, brimming with confidence, are going into this weekend’s game with high hopes.

“I want to make playoffs. We’ve got to win our next game,” Ferreira said.

Players and coaches are hoping Ryerson students will come to De La Salle College, one block west of Summerhill subway station, to cheer their team for what could be a historic game.

“When we go to away games, there are fans stacked in the stands,” Hsan said. “We need fans to come and cheer us on.”