TORONTO - After four scoreless powerplay opportunities, Hayden McCool (Whitby, Ont.) potted the game winner on the man-advantage and gave the Rams the 2-1 edge over York on Friday night.

Both York and Ryerson stepped on the ice with a 1-2-0 record. Ryerson had yet to find success on the road, dropping their last game in Guelph 6-3. 

Head coach Johnny Duco sent out a lighter squad in anticipation for the second half of this weekend's back-to-back. Troy Timpano (Pickering, Ont.) got the start in net and picked up the win. 

Gregory DiTomaso (Etobicoke, Ont.) opened the scoring on a feed from his defence partner Jared Walsh (Toronto). It was the first goal of the season for the Rams' blueliner. York's Dylan Riley tied it up shortly after. 

Unfortunately, the Rams continued to lack production with the man-advantage. The first period saw two powerplays come and go for Ryerson's offence. The first ended in a 1-1 tie.

The powerplay unit got an early chance in the second but showed more of the same woes, going 0-for-2 in the second with a total of 0-for-4 throughout 40 minutes. The game stayed tied entering the second intermission. 

The teams traded chances in the third. The Rams got another chance on the powerplay, when they needed it most. 

Finally, Matt Mistele's (Whitby, Ont.) smooth skating and pass out front to McCool led to the go-ahead marker, which would last until the final whistle.

York had a goal disallowed with just 25 seconds remaining when the net slid off its moorings before the puck crossed the red line. The Lions failed a last-ditch comeback, and Ryerson hit the post on an empty net try. 

Per the Ryerson Rams Men's Hockey Team on Twitter, coach Duco said "We did a great job. Total team effort. All 18 skaters and our (goalie) worked hard. And it's something to build on."

The Rams will look for their first set of consecutive wins Saturday when they visit Varsity Stadium to take on Toronto at 7 p.m. Ryerson got the upper hand over the Blues last Saturday, winning 6-3.