The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s hockey team fell 5-3 to the Western Mustangs on Sunday, December 6 at Varsity Arena.

With the loss, the Blues head into the December break in sixth place in the OUA with a 6-6-1 record.

U of T came out flying and looked eager to score from the opening faceoff. However, it was the Mustangs who would strike first as Katie Dillion (Oshawa, Ont.) scored a wrap-around goal midway through the first period.

Western increased their lead to two 1:48 into the second frame as Kaley Sisler (Arkona, Ont.) received a pass from linemate Brittany Buck (Etobicoke, Ont.) and sent the puck through Blues goaltender Melissa Muir’s (Winnipeg, Man.) legs and into the net.

The Mustangs continued to pressure and would build a three-goal advantage when Lindsay Repath (Thornhill, Ont.) tipped a Lindsay Gidomski (Mississauga, Ont.) shot to beat a screened Muir midway through the game.

The Blues finally got on the board with two powerplay markers in the last 58 seconds of the second period.

Second-year forward and Varsity Blues player of the game Callie Bazak (Peterborough, Ont.) finished off a beautiful end-to-end rush when she sent a booming shot at net to beat Western goaltender Jessica Ulrich (Keswick, Ont.).

46 seconds later fifth-year veteran Annie DelGuidice (Hamilton, Ont.) sent a shot from the high slot over Ulrich’s glove and into the net.

Western held a slight 3-2 lead after two periods of play.

Second-year Mustangs forward Chantal Morais (Guelph, Ont.) would increase Western’s lead on the powerplay as she walked out of the corner and sent the puck five-hole to put Western up 4-2.

The Mustangs ran into some penalty trouble as the Blues were rallying to get back in the game. With five minutes remaining, third-year forward Brenley Jorgensen (Kingston, Ont.) wired a wrist shot through traffic into the top corner of the net to put U of T within one.

Despite a six-on-five advantage, Toronto’s hopes to tie things up would be crushed as Mustangs leading scorer Ellie Seedhouse (Whitby, Ont.) add an empty-netter to secure the 5-3 victory.

The Varsity Blues return to action when they travel to Montreal, Que. for the Theresa Humes tournament, December 28-30, hosted by the Concordia Stingers.

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