By Jay Saran
Deja vu is the only way to describe how the men’s soccer team felt after their game against the Laurentian Voyageurs on Saturday.
The Rams suffered their first loss of the season thanks to Laurentian forward Davor Alisic’s goal. But what had the Rams hanging their heads at the end of this game wasn’t the way Alisic scored, but when he did.
Ryerson allowed another late goal – the third time they have this season. The first two times against Queen’s and Trent resulted in draws. But Alisic’s 90th-minute toe-poke ended their undefeated season.
They were the last undefeated team left in the OUA Eastern Conference.
The Ram’s created more chances than their opponent; they dominated possession; they defended very well. But they walked away without the result they deserved once again.
Ryerson had plenty of chances to take the lead. Midfielder Alex Braletic had an early chance, but curled his 9th-minute free-kick just wide of the net.
The Rams kept the pressure on the Voyageurs throughout. Right-back Jason Morgan had a golden opportunity in the 16th minute when he volleyed a chip-pass from midfielder Kevin Souter, but the shot hit Laurentian’s goalkeeper David Sczcepaniak square in the chest.
However, the highlight move of the first 45 came from Laurentian midfielder Derek Lubertino just before the end of the half. The fifth-year player from Charlottetown, PEI, dragged the ball away from one Rams defender before passing the ball through the legs of another. His effort led to a dangerous in-swinging cross that sailed just wide of the Rams goal.
In the second half, Ryerson continued to control the game. They changed their formation and pushed an extra attacker forward to go for the win. The move looked like a good one as Rams forward Vince D’Elia wreaked havoc on the wings, creating several key scoring chances for teammates Viktor Anastasov and Bismark Moateng.
But once again, the offense came up empty.
“We were the better team,” said first-year defender Mihal Andoni. “We just have to finish our chances.”
With the loss, the Rams hold fourth place in the east. Ryerson will take on the University of Toronto, ranked seventh in the CIS, on Wednesday night at Lamport Stadium.
Photo: Marta Iwanek
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