CIS WRAP: Ryerson wins battle of Toronto By Steven Sandor Posted on October 28, 2013 1 0 1,014 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Ryerson won the battle of Toronto, and is off to the Ontario semifinals. The Rams, ranked No. 2 in the country, got the 120th-minute extra time winner from Nick Lambis, off a corner from Martin Dabrowski, to claim a 3-2 OUA quarter-final win over the University of Toronto. It was Lambis’s first-ever OUA goal, and it capped off a Sunday filled with Hail Marys for the Rams. Not only did Lambis get the last-gasp winner, but the Rams needed a 90th minute goal from Alex Braletic to send the game to extra time. It looked as if the Varsity Blues were going to pull off the upset, but Braletic saved the Rams’ OUA campaign. Ryerson will be joined in the Ontario final four by York, Windsor and Carleton. The Rams will host the tournament this coming weekend at Birchmount Stadum in Scarborough. Nick Lambis Windsor is the big surprise, as the Lancers pulled off the biggest upset of the Ontario playoffs, beating two-time defending OUA champ McMaster 2-1 after extra time. Lancer Michael Pio’s extra-time chip shot proved the difference, while Windsor keeper Deja Olagbegi had a man-of-the-mach performance, making save after save to allow his team to get to extra time. York, a former No. 1 team in the rankings this season (and currently at No. 3), had an easy time of it in its quarter-final, romping over Laurier by a 5-0 count. Mark-Anthony Kaye scored twice in the first half for the Lions, including a penalty. In the second half, goals from Dylan Sacramento, Jonathan Lao and Tyrone Downes turned the game into a rout. Carleton got a 105th-minute winner from Joey Kewin to take a nailbiter of a quarter-final against Queen’s. Kewin’s goal gave the Ravens a 2-1 win. The Gaels tied the match in the 90th minute thanks to a headed goal from Andrew Martin, but Carleton, another former No. 1 in the national rankings, was able to save itself from the upset. UBC SNOWED OUT While Ontario has already started its playoffs, Canada West wrapped up its regular season. And it’s unlikely that the No. 1 UBC Thunderbirds will be moved from their perch, even though they only won one of their two scheduled games on their recent Alberta road trip. The T-Birds smashed the Lethbridge Pronghorns by an 8-0 count Saturday, with Milad Mehrabi kicking of the rout with two first-half markers. The win was UBC’s 11th in a row. But the T-Birds couldn’t make it an Alberta sweep on Sunday; that’s because their scheduled game against the University of Calgary was snowed out. Severe winter weather rolled through the southern portions of the province, and officials decided on Sunday morning that the game wouldn’t be played. WOMEN’S PLAYOFFS: LAURIER THROUGH, OTTAWA SHOCKED While Laurier’s men’s team saw its season end on the weekend, the women’s team, powered by OUA top scorer Emily Brown, continued its playoff march. Brown scored for the 19th time this season, and Cassandra Mensah got the goals as Laurier beat UOIT in the quarters. They will be joined by Queen’s, Western and Carleton That’s right. The No. 1 ranked University of Ottawa wasn’t on the list. The Gee-Gees were beaten in penalty kicks by Queen’s after the two teams played to a scoreless tie through regulation and extra time. Brittany Almeida scored the deciding penalty. Ottawa scored 55 times in 16 regular-season matches, but couldn’t find the back of the net when it mattered. The warning signs were there two weeks ago, when the Gee-Gees were stunned by their crosstown rivals from Carleton. While Ottawa stumbled, Carleton’s season was extended with a 1-0 extra-time win over the University of Toronto. Abby Nicastro scored in the 117th minute to send the Ravens through to the semis. After beating Ottawa earlier this season, and now surviving to the semifinals while the Gee-Gees went down in the quarters, the Ravens now have soccer bragging rights in the nation’s capital. Western got goals from Jenna White and Lauren Winquist in a 2-0 quarter-final win over Guelph.
