Courtesy: Stephen KassimTORONTO- The Ryerson Rams women's hockey team came up just short against one of the top teams in the conference, taking a third period lead only to have it slip away against the Queen's Gaels on Saturday afternoon at George Bell Arena.
The Rams gave up the game-winning marker with just over two minutes left in regulation, and would fall to the Gaels 4-3 in the final game of their inaugural season in the OUA/CIS.
Before the game, fifth-year veterans Lauren McCusker (Newmarket, Ont.) and Kyla Thurston (Ajax, Ont.) were honoured for their contribution to the women's hockey program.
Thurston, who became the Rams first captain just before the start of the regular season, garnered two more assists to add to her team-leading total of 19 points, including 10 goals. McCusker finished the year second on the team with 16 points, and both have been integral to helping the youngest team in the OUA find its way through a CIS season.
Queen's opened the scoring on the power-play late in the first, and after Janella Brodett (Calgary, Alta.) tallied her first of the season to even things up, the Gaels went ahead before the second intermission.
But quick goals by Jessica Hartwick (Brampton, Ont.) and McCusker just 16 seconds apart would put the Rams in front at the 6:36 mark of the third before they surrendered the win in the final 12 minutes of their season.
Emma Crawley (Herring Cove, N.S.) stopped 36 of 40 shots in the loss for women, who finish the season with a 1-23-2 record in their first year as the Ryerson Rams.
