It’s business time for the Ryerson Rams women’s soccer team as they try to win their first-ever playoff game on Wednesday evening.

The Rams(5-6-3), who finished sixth in the OUA east standings travel to take on the Nipissing University Lakers (8-6), the third seed.

Coming off a pair of weekends where they faced the pair of Ottawa schools, the Rams are excited about some new competition. They are coming off a few decent performances agaisnt the capital’s schools. Their last game was against the U of Ottowa Gee-Gee, ranked in the first seed. Although they lost, it was only by a one, and the game was called three minutes early due to serious injury.

This will not be Ryerson’s first test against the Lakers, nor their first visit to North Bay.

In the one game against Nippising earlier this year, the Rams lost to the lakers 2-1, but that was the team has improved since then says many of the athletes.

The 2019 playoff campaign has a much different feel than 2018 did. Ryerson have found the back of the net far more often this season, and has a top scorer with a substantial amount of goals. That being Brooke Pearson with a handful. As she leads the line for the Rams, she is also complemented with other attacking forces such as second-year Chloe Zomparelli.

Zomparelli, who was profiled by 49 earlier in the season has not seen the field very much this year, but when she has- her impact has been significantly positive. Her supporting runs and play off the ball draw defenders away, allowing Pearson to get in on goal. She is also a free-kick specialist, making the Rams a threat from any set-piece.

Also making this year’s playoffs more promising is the fact that the rams find themselves in a much better seed. While still in the bottom half of the bracket, the three versus six matchup is nowhere near as daunting as the one versus eight.

With the newfound offence and better matchup, the 2019 playoff has a much brighter lookout than they did a year ago.

In speaking to Ryerson Athletics pearlier this season, Zomparelli said “Everybody out there wants to fight. While nationals may not be in the picture, this program is heading in the right direction.”

These playoffs will be a good indication of where the team is at, and if it is indeed moving forward as Zomparelli suggests.

Featured image: Ryerson team photo (Christian Bender)