WATERLOO, Ont. - Steve Harland played the role of hero for the Rams on Friday night, scoring in overtime to lift Ryerson to a 5-4 victory over the Waterloo Warriors.

Harland picked the puck up off the half boards and carried the puck into the offensive zone, made a few moves around the defender and then deked the goaltender to create an open net to slide the puck into.

Overtime was needed after Waterloo erased a two-goal third period deficit. Ryerson had a 4-2 lead heading into the final 20 minutes but the Warriors' Lee Dower scored on a breakaway after coming out of the penalty box, and Connor Cole tipped in a point shot past a screened Garrett Forrest with a minute and a half remaining to tie the game at 4-4.

The 4-2 lead was the second time the Rams had a two goal cushion as they scored the first two goals of the contest. Mathew Santos opened the scoring before Devon Paliani converted on the power play to give Ryerson a 2-0 first period lead. 

In the second period the teams exchanged goals with Waterloo scoring twice to tie the game before Ryerson regained their two goal lead at 4-2. 

Forrest stood tall in net for the Rams, particularly at the start of the second period when he turned aside a barrage of Warriors opportunities. Waterloo had the first 18 shots of the period, all turned aside by Forrest before a pair of quick goals got by him. Forrest finished with 33 saves.

The Rams move to 8-1-1 on the season and will be back in action on Saturday afternoon when they host the Western Mustangs starting at 4:15 p.m. at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.