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Men’s hockey fails in the third

By Sarah Cunningham-Scharf

The Ryerson men’s hockey team (15-10-0) lost an emotional match against the York University Lions (13-9-2) at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC) Saturday.

The Rams entered the third period up 4-3 but lost 5-7 to the Lions.

“We didn’t show up for the third period,” head coach Graham Wise said.

Ryerson opened scoring in the first period with a rush from OUA-leading winger Jamie Wise and a quick finish from defenseman Dean Willmott.  York responded with a snap from winger Michael Santini — who later scored a hat trick.

The period finished in a 2-2 tie.

Ryerson’s Michael Fine scored twice in the second period — his second with one second left on the clock and heavy traffic in front of the York net.  With Santini’s second goal the score was 4-3 Ryerson, after 40 minutes of play.

But Fine’s two-goal performance was overshadowed by Ryerson’s weak defense in the third period.  The Rams couldn’t stop Santini in his quest for a hat trick — opening scoring four minutes into the period.  Two goals within 30 seconds from York’s Lombardi made the score 6-4 Lions.

A final shorthanded goal from York on the open net with one minute to go in the third followed by a scrappy goal from Ryerson with 18 seconds left in the game set the final score, 7-5 York.

“We just got deflated on some of their goals,” Fine said. “We’ve got to stick with it.”

The Rams sit fourth in the OUA, with three regular season games left.  The Lions are hot on their heels in fifth.

“[We need to play] defensive hockey,” coach Wise said. “We just have to keep pucks out of our net.  We need to get back on the winning track.”

The Rams next game is against the Laurier University Golden Hawks at the MAC Saturday.

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