Ravens smother RMC in dominant 5-0 performance

(OTTAWA, ON) — The Carleton Ravens blazing start paved the way for an easy 5-0 mid-week victory over RMC Paladins on Wednesday afternoon. First-year forward Kaitlyn Balfour (Kingston, ON) got the Ravens off to a flying start in the 3rd minute when she blasted a shot past RMC goalie Alexandria Hogg.

Within ten minutes of taking the early lead, Carleton added to their advantage with a goal from 5th-year forward Adrianna Ruggiero (Markham, ON) following some excellent team passing down the pitch. Tina Lacava (Markham, ON) found a cutting Ruggiero and delivered in a soft lob over the defence before Ruggiero finished short side on Hogg.

Leadring 2-0 at the half, Carleton kept bringing the heat in the second. In the 60th minute, Lacava continued to impress in a wide playmaking role as she delivered a sublime cross-crease ball to a streaking Sarah Royer (Ottawa, ON) who finished with a gentle touch to make it 3-0.

Sarah Royer, deployed in the trequartista role in the second half,  scored her second goal of the half on a magical bar-down strike just outside the 18-yard box in the 67th minute for a 4-0 advantage.

Kaitlyn Balfour added her second goal of the game in the 70th minute when she received a pass in the 18-yard box on the left hand side of the RMC goal before quickly turning and curling a shot into the top right corner for her second tally of the game.

"It was a good team effort overall. We wanted to make sure that we'd get after [RMC] right away. We started settling in after that first goal," remarked head coach Raz El-Asmar.

Tina Lacava, Carleton's 5th year senior, played an excellent match for the Ravens against RMC, contributing several assists and pressing the Paladins' defence for most of the game.

"Ever since we made those changes three weeks ago by having [Tina Lacava] on the right side of the pitch, we now have the quality on both sides that we can use in attack," added El-Asmar

With the victory, Carleton (15pts) slides past Nipissing (14pts) in the battle for the 6th and final OUA East playoff spot with five more games remaining. However, Nipissing has a game in hand over the Ravens.

Source: Carleton Ravens