Rams athletics didn’t disappoint in its first season back in almost two years. From game winning goals from the hockey and soccer teams, to the volleyball team holding down court and buzzer beaters from the basketball teams, there were tons of memorable moments and takeaways.

With the athletic year winding down, it would be remiss not to take a look back at the year and hand out some well-deserved hardware (albeit virtually) to some of the Rams’ standout players, teams and moments.

Team of the Year: Women’s basketball

The lone undefeated team, the Ram’s women's basketball team finished the regular season with a perfect 14-0 record. The Rams scored over 70 points per game on average—fourth in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA), just behind the Western Mustangs. With no player averaging more than 12 points per game, the Rams truly play a team-oriented style. More impressive, they are holding opponents to 51.6 points per game, which ranks first in the OUA. The Rams won the Critelli Cup on March 26 and will look to win a national championship when the U Sports Final 8 Women’s National Championship tournament tips-off March 31.

Honourable mentions (HM): Men’s soccer, women’s curling, men’s hockey

Athlete to Watch: Aaron Rhooms, men’s basketball

In his first year with the team, Rhooms is leading the squad in points with almost 20 per game and with almost eight a night in the rebound department. With the poise of a fifth-year player, Rhooms looks comfortable on the court as a point forward and getting the ball around the mid-range area. As the Rams continue to transition into a new era of basketball under head coach David DeAveiro, Rhooms will be a key-building-block moving forward.

HM: Zakaria Abdi, men’s soccer; Jacob Walker, men’s volleyball

Highlight of the Year: Elijah Roberts sliding pass for Kyle Bollers’ goal

The Rams men’s hockey team hosted the University of Toronto Varsity Blues for their second regular season home game of the season on Nov. 25. Coming up the left side of the rink was first-year forward Elijah Roberts with a two-on-two opportunity in the third period. As the Varsity Blues’ defencemen lost focus for a split second, Roberts also lost his balance, shooting off a falling pass to the middle of the rink, received by first-year forward Kyle Bollers. Bollers had enough space to get the puck past Varsity Blues goalie Alex Bishop, giving the Rams a 2-1 lead and eventually the 3-1 win.

HM: Skylar Sheehan-Alleyene’s header in women’s soccer home opener

Moment of the Year: Abdallah El-Chanti’s first goal of the season

In the Rams men's soccer team’s opening game of the season, they found themselves with a chance to put themselves up with a penalty kick courtesy of the fifth-year captain. With the rain pouring down at Varsity Stadium, El-Chanti faked the goalkeeper, firing the ball to the left side of the net. The team ran to celebrate by the Rams fans section, pointing to those in attendance, leaving the Varsity Blues’ fans stunned in silence.

HM: Women’s soccer first program win against University of Toronto in home opener

Clutch Gene: Mikaela Dodig, women’s basketball

Big moments are nothing new to fifth-year guard Mikaela Dodig. Coming from the University of New Brunswick, she played four years with the Reds, two of them as an Atlantic University Sport All-Star. In her first game as a Ram this season, Dodig knocked down two clutch three-pointers to give the Rams their first win at home in nearly two years against the Queen’s Gaels. Dodig finished the game with a game-high 25 points. She also had the game winning basket against the nationally-ranked University of Ottawa Gee-Gees in the second half of the women’s basketball season.

Athlete of the Year: Abdallah EL-Chanti, men’s soccer

In his last year as a Ram, El-Chanti scored eight goals and dished out four assists as the men’s soccer team won 80 per cent of their games in the regular season. It wasn’t his most dominant season in his tenure with the Rams, but he still had his moments, like scoring goals against Laurentian and McMaster to push the team into the playoffs. They were rewarded with a home playoff game against the Waterloo Warriors, beating them 4-0. The team was close to a U Sports championship appearance, but lost to the York Lions in a controversial finish that saw El-Chanti thrown out —the last time he would wear the blue and gold Rams jersey. El-Chanti was named an OUA All Star this season for his efforts.

HM: Rachel Seeley, women’s hockey; Aaron Rhooms, men’s basketball; Kyle Bollers, men’s hockey