By Harlan Nemerofsky
The Ryerson men’s soccer team will battle the Toronto Varsity Blues in Sunday afternoon’s Ontario University Athletics (OUA) quarterfinal at Birchmount Stadium.
The No. 2 nationally-ranked Rams (12-0-2) own the OUA’s top scorer in midfielder Alex Braletic, who has 13 goals in 12 games. The Rams enter the weekend after coming off a bye, finishing first in the OUA east.
Meanwhile, the Varsity Blues (5-4-5) who beat the Laurentian Voyageurs 2-1 in the opening round of the post-season, own the OUA’s most efficient scorer. Mario Kovacevic has eight goals on eight shots — good for seventh in league scoring.
The Rams have dominated the Varsity Blues this season, going 2-0 versus their downtown rivals, beating them 3-0 twice, the +6 goal differential their highest against any opponent this year.
The Rams made it to the OUA quarterfinals last year, losing to Carleton 6-3 in overtime and fell 2-1 in penalty kicks to the Varsity Blues in the quarterfinals in 2011.
The Varsity Blues come in scorching hot, undefeated in their last seven games. Their last loss was on Sept. 29 against the Rams at Monarch Park Stadium — the Rams’ regular season home field.
The Rams enter Sunday’s game undefeated in a perfect 14 games for the first time in program history. The Rams entered national rankings on week three, Sept. 17, and reached as high as second on Oct.8, where they sit now.
The winner will advance to the OUA Final Four next weekend, which will be hosted by Ryerson if they are victorious.
Sunday’s kick off is at 2pm.
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