The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s hockey team fell 5-1 to the York Lions on Saturday, November 21 at Varsity Arena.

Third-year forward Courtney Unruh (Fort St. John, B.C.) had one goal and three assists, while fifth-year veteran Mandy Cole (Peterborough, Ont.) tallied two goals in the win.

Despite outshooting the Lions 15-8 in the first period, the Blues could not find the back of the net. Cole opened the scoring on a Lions powerplay midway through the first period off passes from Unruh and Kelsey Webster (Duncan, B.C.).

The Lions opened the flood gates in the second period, scoring three unanswered goals to take a commanding 4-0 lead. Cole tallied her second powerplay marker of the night as she sent a shot through a screen past Blues goaltender Melissa Muir (Winnipeg, Man.).

With just over a minute left in the period, first-year forward Amanda McBride (Toronto) walked through the slot and deked her way through two U of T defenders to find the back of the net. 21 seconds later Unruh and Autumn Mills (Aurora, Ont.) came down all alone on the Toronto net and made no mistake as Unruh sent a pass to Mills who one-timed it in.

Toronto finally got on the board 4:27 into the third period when third-year forward Amanda Fawns (Scarborough, Ont.) sent a pass to Blues leading scorer Lindsay Hill (Ajax, Ont.) all alone in the slot who wired a shot into the top corner of the net.

York would respond less than two minutes later as Unruh recorded a short handed goal to secure the four-goal lead.

Hill was named the Varsity Blues player of the game.

The Varsity Blues return to action next Saturday, November 28 when they travel to Guelph, Ont. to take on the Gryphons. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite Toronto teams, please visit the home of the Varsity Blues at http://www.varsityblues.ca.