Karolina Urban scored two goals as the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s hockey team upset the No. 7 Queen’s Gaels 4-3 on Sunday, January 17 at Varsity Arena.

The Blues improve to 10-7-2 and remain in fifth place, one point behind the Guelph Gryphons.

The Gaels opened the scoring six minutes in when fourth-year forward Elizabeth Kench (Gananoque, Ont.) sent a pass to Morgan McHaffie (Guelph, Ont.) who came in all alone and slid the puck past Blues goaltender Kendyl Valenta (Brampton, Ont.).

Toronto began to rally and quickly evened the score when second-year forward Callie Bazak (Peterborough, Ont.) received a pass from assistant captain Emily Milito (Ottawa, Ont.) at the Gaels blue line and rifled a shot through Mel Dodd-Moher’s (Stittsville, Ont.) legs and into the net.

U of T continued to press and Urban put her squad ahead with 1:29 remaining in the opening frame. The Kamloops, B.C. native finished off a great cycle play with linemates Brenley Jorgensen (Kingston, Ont.) and Lindsay Hill (Ajax, Ont.) by sending a snap shot under Dodd-Moher’s glove to find the back of the net.

The Blues held a 2-1 lead at the first intermission.

Jorgensen quickly put the Blues up by two with a shorthanded marker in what would be a penalty-filled second period. The third-year forward intercepted a Gaels pass and sent a beautiful backhand into the top of the Queen’s net just 2:36 minutes into the second frame.

A total of 11 penalties (five against the Gaels, six against the Blues) were called throughout the second period, however, neither team would capitalize with the man-advantage as U of T maintained a 3-1 lead heading into the final frame.

Urban potted her second goal of the night four minutes into the third period when she received a centering pass from Jorgensen and scored five-hole to give the Blues a three-goal lead.

However, in typical Toronto-Queen’s fashion, the Gaels upped the tempo and fought their way back into the game. First-year forward Morgan McHaffie (Guelph, Ont.) scored two goals of similar fashion to bring the game within one.

McHaffie first tipped a Michelle Hunt (Mississauga, Ont.) point shot on the back post to beat Valenta at the 7:11 mark of the third and went on to pick up a Hunt rebound with just 4:15 left to play.

Despite a six-on-five advantage for 40 seconds, the Gaels were unable to complete the comeback and the Blues came away with their 10th win of the season.

Valenta stood on her head and made 47 saves in the victory. Urban was named player of the game for her two-goal performance.

The Varsity Blues return to action on Saturday, January 23 when they travel across town to take on the No. 9 York Lions. 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.