TORONTO - In over 60 minutes of intense hockey, the Rams fell 3-2 in overtime on Friday night in their Blue and Gold game. Earning a point in their loss, the Rams' playoff hopes are still very much alive. 

Lauren Nicholson (Dresden, Ont.) and Mariah Hinds (Toronto) were all over the ice, with both skaters lighting the lamp. Hinds had herself quite a busy night, earning herself eight penalty minutes and an assist to go with her goal. Penalties were abundant for both squads, with each squad going 1-for-7 on the power play on the night. Meanwhile, the Rams only managed to score twice on 44 shots while limiting Laurentian to just five attempts on goal in the third period and overtime. 

Ryerson were on their toes early, killing off nearly back-to-back stick infractions from the first minute of play. The Voyageurs held the Rams without a shot for the first eight and a half minutes of play. Later on, the Rams were given a thirty second 5-on-3. Madison Lalonde (Blenheim, Ont.) put two shots on goal, but the power play was killed off. 

Later in the frame, reigning Assembli Highlight Challenge winner Mia Morano (Toronto) nearly secured another highlight-reel goal, but lost her handle at the last moment. The Rams caught up to Laurentian in shots after 20 with the squads tied 7-7, but the score knotted at zero. 

Less than three minutes into the second, the Rams found themselves on their second 5-on-3 of the game for almost a minute. While taking the lead in shots, nothing could faze Laurentian's Shanna Dolighan in net. 

Halfway through the period, Mariah Hinds let a rocket of a one-timer go from the point, soaring it past Dolighan's shoulder. Her fourth of the season was assisted by BC natives Tori Butler (North Saanich, B.C.) and Alexia Ursua (Surrey, B.C.).

Right after her goal, Hinds was assessed a double-minor for head contact, but an even-up call made things 4-on-4, ending the threat. With just over a minute left in the second and teams back at full strength, the puck found Morgan McCann alone in front. Her uncontested shot was enough to beat Ryerson's Rachel Seeley (Ottawa, Ont.), evening things up at one after forty. 

The first ten minutes of the third period saw both squads trade another pair of power plays. With eight minutes to go, Hinds was sent to the box again with yet another head contact double-minor. Ryerson's penalty kill got unlucky when a bouncing shot from the point left Laurentian's Megan Arnott with an open cage, making it 2-1. 

As Hinds' double minor expired, Lauren Nicholson (Dresden, Ont.) was tripped up, sending the Rams back to the power play. When they needed it most, their special teams came through on their seventh chance of the game as Nicholson drilled in a one-timer of her own off a feed from Hinds. The late-game tie held up in the remaining four minutes, and the squads went to overtime. 

After five shots in the extra frame for Ryerson, it took just one Laurentian blast for them to win it. Morgan McCann flexed her shot yet again, as she netted the game winner. 

"We have been getting a lot of shots in the(se) games, we just got to find a way," said Nicholson post-game. "Hopefully we come out and get a win for the seniors (tomorrow)."

Head coach Lisa Haley was happy to have earned at least a point in this late-season tilt. "Any time you get points, you got to take them for sure. I think one point right now is big and keeps us in control of our own destiny."

Saturday is Senior Night for the Rams as they will honour their graduating student-athletes in a pre-game ceremony. "I think everyone of us, including our seniors, will tell you that the result of the game matters just as much." 

Puck drop on Senior night tomorrow is set for 7:15 p.m. as the Rams are in for a challenge against the Nipissing Lakers.