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The Rams congratulate each other on their season after falling in overtime.
Photo by Christian Bender
2
Ryerson RYE
3
Winner Toronto TOR
Ryerson RYE
2
Final
3
Toronto TOR
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 OT 1 F
Ryerson RYE 0 1 1 0 2
Toronto TOR 1 1 0 1 3

Game Recap: Hockey (W) | | Joe Mastromatteo

Rams historic season closes with overtime loss in game three

TORONTO - The Ryerson Rams' most successful season to date was cut short on Sunday night in a 3-2 overtime loss to Toronto in the OUA semifinals.

The seventy-five minutes of hockey on Sunday night embodied the Rams' historic season as they clawed back from a 2-0 deficit to bring it to overtime. Ryerson was just one win away from their first ever trip to the McCaw Cup Final and U SPORTS nationals spot. No other Ryerson hockey squad has yet to advance past the OUA semifinals despite the women's squad coming heartbreakingly close this season.  

"The only reason to be sad is because it's over, not because we have anything to regret. This was probably one of the best hockey games that we've played all season," said head coach Lisa Haley with tears in her eyes. 

Almost every Ram, from the stable Rachel Seeley (Ottawa, Ont.) to Olivia Giardetti (Whitby, Ont.), were overcome with emotion. The Rams outshot the Blues 42-22 and hardly let Toronto touch the puck towards the end of the game. The pack of Ryerson faithful in the stands, along with the team, were shocked to see Toronto's lone shot throughout fifteen minutes of overtime light the lamp. The Rams put up ten shots in the extra frame to no avail.     

Meanwhile, despite four penalties against the Rams in the third period alone, whistles seemed to be put away in overtime. Toronto went 0-for-6 on the power-play while Ryerson went 0-for-3. 

In the 3-2 loss, Giardetti and Lauren Nicholson (Dresden, Ont.) scored for the Rams while Seeley made 19 saves. Natasha Athanasakos scored twice for Toronto, including the winner. 

Less than a minute into the game, Giardetti went off for hooking. As they did in game two, Ryerson had no trouble killing it off.  

After Kryshanda Green (Brampton, Ont.) had a breakaway snuffed out by Toronto's Erica Fryer, Louie Bieman gave Toronto a lead. Mathilde De Serres put a shot on Seeley, allowing Bieman to snap in the rebound. 

Despite almost doubling up Toronto with 19 shots halfway through the second, the Rams sacrificed another goal. On a seemingly innocent play, Natasha Athanasakos stuffed it in past Seeley's pad from the corner of the crease. 

Finally, on their 26th shot of the game, Nicholson floated one by Fryer from the faceoff circle. Her fourth goal of the playoffs, and third in the last 24 hours, was enough to send the Rams into the second intermission down just 2-1. Giardetti and Tori Butler (North Saanich, B.C.) earned the assists off a strong cycle. 

A fiery start to the third frame saw Brooklyn Gemmill (Cambridge, Ont.) go off for kneeing about five minutes in. Although it was the Blues' third power play chance of the night, it was the Rams who lit the lamp. After a tie-up in the neutral zone, Giardetti and Mariah Hinds (Toronto) went off on a shorthanded 2-on-1 rush. Giardetti took matters into her own hands, beating the defender with a sweep to her backhand before lifting it past Fryer's blocker to tie it at 2-2. 

In the ensuing momentum, the Rams killed off another power play, forcing the Blues to ice the puck on their player-advantage. Green also rang one squarely off the post a few minutes later. 

Two consecutive head-contact minors against the Rams in the dying minutes were promptly killed off by Seeley and the rest of the squad. After forcing Toronto's power play to go 0-for-6 and outshooting the Blues 32-21, the match went to overtime. 

Despite Ryerson's pressure throughout the extra period, a shot from a sharp angle from Athanasakos bounced past Seeley to seal it for Toronto. 

In an otherwise dampened Rams hallway after the game, an uplifting sight was a beaming captain Kryshanda Green as she spoke to fans and teammates after her illustrious OUA career. 

Coach Haley commented on graduating seniors in Green, Karli Nummikoski (Thunder Bay, Ont.), Laura Ball (Toronto), Emily Marshall (Oakville, Ont.), Rachel Dowdall, and Sydney Authier. 

"We owe a lot to our seniors that have raised the bar every year for us. Now it's our responsibility to build on what they've done for us. We have six seniors that have put a lot into our program and we're going to miss each one of them in their special way." 

Meanwhile, the Rams will only look to improve next season as they did this year. 

"The core of the team that's returning is really solid and very committed. The season's just ending now but as we have time to reflect we're going to realize that there's lots to look forward to in the future of the program because of what's been accomplished so far." 

With the off-season upon almost every Ryerson squad, stay tuned for updates on recruits and other news at ryersonrams.ca or on social media @ryersonrams.
 
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