Carleton’s women’s soccer squad opened up the home portion of their schedule with a win Sept. 6, defeating the visiting Ryerson University Rams on the strength of Sarah Royer’s 73rd minute header.
The Ravens dominated both in possession and on the shot clock, but it took coach Raz El-Asmar’s side over an hour to finally break the deadlock.
“There were a lot of positives today,” El-Asmar said post-game. “We really grew into the game and at times dominated.”
The match started off in dreary fashion, reflecting the grey weather which hung over Keith Harris Stadium. The first truly dangerous chance of the match came twenty-four minutes in, when Ravens captain Veronica Mazzella floated a free kick through the Rams 18-yard box which eluded Carleton’s leading scorer, Royer.
As the Ravens grew into the game, so did midfielder Nicole Filipow. The Edmonton native tested Ryerson goalkeeper Brittney Clendenan four times in the first half, including a stinging effort in the 38th minute which forced a superb diving save.
Despite dominating the closing moments of the first half, the Ravens found themselves tied nil-nil at the half.
The second half saw the visiting Rams both find their legs defensively and put a scare into the Ravens, as Kevin Souter’s team began to push on the counter-attack, forcing Carleton into more conscientious and organized defending.
Carleton substitute Melat Cherent proved to be a force on the right flank in the second half, making multiple slicing runs and servicing excellent through balls and aerial crosses.
Cherent proved to be a catalyst on the game-winning goal, as her cross in the 73rd minute found the head of Ravens leading scorer Royer. The fourth-year from Lethbridge, Alta. made no mistake, heading the ball perfectly into the top corner, leaving Clendenan no chance.
Despite the Rams’ best efforts deep in injury time, the Ravens stood tall defensively to deservedly collect all three points on the afternoon.
“We played well as a unit, and we were sharp in the offensive third,” said Ravens fourth-year captain Ronnie Mazzella post-game. “There were lots of positives to take forward from this game, but at the same time we know that we’ll have to be better defensively, as a unit, going forward.”
The Ravens did benefit from a controversial offside call in the 58th minute, which negated one of Ryerson’s only clear-cut scoring chances.
Rams left winger Sarah Harvey found herself in clear alone on the Carleton net, only for the play to be whistled back due to the offside call.
The Ravens second weekend match against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues was a different matter—as only four minutes in Toronto’s
Claudia Piazza slid the ball past Ravens goalkeeper Rada Mintchev to put them up 1-0.
Filipow led the onslaught with many close chances in both halves, but injuries in the previous Ryerson match plagued the Ravens the entire 90 minutes.
In the last minute of regulation, Toronto’s Alexandra Rigby added an insurance goal to make it 2-0 and seal the Ravens.
It was a hard-fought loss, as the Ravens notched seven shots on goal to the Blues’ four, but they were not able to beat goalkeeper Sara Petrucci, who recorded a blank sheet for her team.
Despite the result, the Ravens still came away with three points for the weekend. They will return to the road Sept. 13 to take on the Nipissing
University Lakers, and the Laurentian University Voyageurs on Sept. 14.
