A trio of late goals decided the game, as the No. 8 nationally ranked York University Lions women's hockey team fell 3-2 in overtime against the Ryerson Rams at the Mattamy Athletic Centre on Saturday afternoon.
 
Three minutes into overtime, Rams forward Lauren Nicholson notched her second goal of the game on a power-play, shooting the puck from the point past two Rams forwards screening Lions goaltender Lauren Dubie, to steal the win.
 
Courtney Gardiner got the Lions first goal of the game, and her sixth of the season, late in the first period. Two quick passes from Avery Reeves and Caroline Eagles let the forward rip a beautiful shot that went top shelf and bounced back out with only the goaltenders bottle springing up to illustrate that indeed the puck had gone in.
 
Moving to the third, with 11:09 left in the period on a Lions power-play, York's leading point getter Taylor Davison put on a show with her brilliant pace. Taking possession from her own blue line and skating past both team benches, Davison lifted the puck on her back hand over the left shoulder of Rams netminder Rachel Seeley to give the Lions a two-goal lead.
 
The Rams equalizing goals came with six minutes left in the third - the first followed a flurry of four shots that were turned away on a penalty kill by Dubie. Nicholson, who was a threat all game, was able to get her side within one on a give-and-go play with 5:41 left in the period.
 
In the dying minutes of the game, Rams Olivia Giardetti skated fiercely down the right side, shielded the puck from the Lions defence and came crashing into Dubie, slipping the puck past her to equalize the score at 2-2.
 
In overtime Rams forward Madison Lalonde looked to have a one-on-one opportunity against Dubie, but lost the puck. The play was ultimately ruled a hooking penalty to give the Rams a favourable 4-3 advantage with 5:20 left in the extra frame that eventually led to Nicholson's game clinching goal.
 
Despite the score the Lions dominated play for the majority of the game outshooting their opponents in every period for a total of 40 shots against the Rams 22. Dubie made 19 saves including a couple of close-range attempts to keep her side above water for much of the contest.
 
With the loss the Lions now fall to fifth in the OUA standings with a 7-4-0-1 record while the Rams sit tied for third with a 7-4-1-0 record.
 
The Lions will wrap up their fall schedule at home next weekend with a pair of games against the Laurentian Voyageurs on Friday at 7pm, and No. 10 ranked Nipissing Lakers on Saturday at 7:15pm.