By Mario Russo
The Rams women’s hockey team had no help for goalie Rachel Seeley in a 4-0 loss to their crosstown rivals, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues (U of T) on Saturday afternoon at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC).
The Rams failed to find the back of the net offensively for the second game in a row, forcing goaltender Rachel Seeley to make twenty plus saves yet again.
“We didn’t do much in front of her tonight, it’s too bad,” said head coach Lisa Haley.
Seeley played in her 50th career OUA game this past Thursday against the Varsity Blues, steering aside 35 shots in the team’s 1-0 loss.
“She gives us a chance every single night…we go where she takes us,” said Haley.
The Ottawa native stood tall on the first dangerous chance of Saturday’s contest, extending her stick the width of the crease to rob Varsity Blues forward Aili McKeown.
Ryerson failed to capitalize on a trio of power plays in the frame, but the offensive chances were there.
With the clock dwindling down in the first, a cross-seam pass found its way to the stick of Cailey Davis. The rookie forward’s wide-open opportunity would go unrewarded as the Varsity Blues goaltender slid to her right to keep the game scoreless.
“We have to find our chemistry again and I have no doubt that is the team that can do that,” said Haley.
The search for the game’s first goal had to wait until the middle stanza as both teams capped off a quiet period, posting donuts on the scoreboard.
The game’s lack of discipline spilled over to kick off the second, including an Erika Crouse double minor for head contact that sent all the momentum the Varsity Blues’ way.
The Rams head coach said the penalty-filled game is just “the style of OUA hockey.”
Midway through the frame, Varsity Blues forward Celine Frappier finally put her side on the scoresheet. One on one with the Rams goaltender, Frappier wristed a shot under Seeley’s blocker for her third tally of the season.
Less than three minutes after the go-ahead goal, Olivia Hilton’s first of the season doubled the visitors lead. A perfectly timed cross-ice pass from Varsity Blues captain Laura Ellis connected with the stick of Hilton to set up the dagger.
U of T continued to pressure the Rams defense throughout the middle frame. Deflections and cross-seam passes continued to pile up for the visitors, with the only Rams constant being Seeley’s ability to weather the storm.
The final frame between the two sides followed the exact same recipe as the second, with the visitors sustaining pressure and a pair of markers as a result.
Ellis would add a goal in the third period, while Hilton tallied the visitors’ fourth of the evening just minutes apart as the Varsity Blues completed the season sweep and took this one 4-0.
After another scoreless loss, Haley indicated the Rams have their work cut out for them.
“We have a lot to sort out…we have to find a way to play as a group.”
UP NEXT: The Rams travel to Kingston, Ont., to take on the Queen’s Gaels on Feb. 18. Puck-drop is set for 7:30 p.m.
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