WINDSOR, Ont. - The Lancers' comeback fell short on Friday night in a spirited 10-round shootout win for the Ryerson Rams. 

Mathew Santos (Toronto) had two goals and an assist, while Devon Paliani (LaSalle, Ont.) worked hard and earned himself a goal and two helpers. Brandon Glover (Sarnia, Ont.) was the hero in the shootout while Patrick Fellows (Mississauga, Ont.) picked up three assists and kept the Rams in it as the eighth-round shooter. 

A quiet opening half to the first saw the Lancers secure a slim shot advantage. Taylor Dupuis (New Liskeard, Ont.) had no trouble putting Windsor's shots aside, while Santos rang an attempt off the post. 

Zachary Shankar (Prescott, Ont.) was sent to the box with just over nine minutes to go. However, the Lancers could only muster a lone power play attempt. Meanwhile, Paliani had a dangerous shorthanded rush which Windsor's Jonathan Reinhart steered aside. 

Early in the second, another Paliani rush allowed Santos to poke in a rebound, giving the Rams a 1-0 edge. 

About seven minutes later, Marcus Hinds' (Toronto) interference penalty forced Dupuis to make a blocker save. While still on the man-advantage, Windsor's Brennan Feasey finally got one by the steady Dupuis, tying things up at 1-1. 

With less than ten to go, Jesse Barwell (Oakville, Ont.) had a potential tally waved off due to goalie interference. After buzzing around the net all game, Paliani secured a definite goal just a few minutes later. Fellows led the rush before feeding it to Paliani in the slot for his tenth of the campaign.

The Rams carried a 2-1 lead into what seemed like the final 20 minutes of their regular season. 

Santos's second of the game made it 3-1 less than two minutes into the final frame. The squad was on cruise control until some penalty trouble halfway into the period. Within four minutes, Paliani was given his second slashing call, Hayden McCool (Whitby, Ont.) was given a 10-minute misconduct, and Gregory DiTomaso (Etobicoke, Ont.) was given four minutes for two different minors. 

In the ensuing penalty kill chaos, Windsor was able to nab two markers, tying things up. Anthony Salinitri and Feasey were responsible for Windsor's second and third tallies. 

Neither team could convert on their chances in overtime, and the thriller of a shootout began. Throughout the ten rounds, both Paliani and McCool hit the post. Mistele also nearly potted a between-the-legs deke. Meanwhile, the veteran Dupuis showed no signs of rust despite allowing a lone goal in the eighth round. With the Rams on the ropes after the eighth shooter, Fellows kept his composure and shot it past Reinhart, keeping the competition going. As Dupuis made two more stops, Glover went top shelf in the tenth round to send the Rams into the playoffs on a high note. 

After Saturday night's games, the Rams first round matchup will be confirmed. With the Rams having cemented the second seed in the OUA West and home-ice advantage, the first round of the OUA playoffs occurs from February 12th-16th.