The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s hockey team avenged a loss to York on Saturday, defeating the Lions 4-2 on Sunday, January 24 at Varsity Arena. 

Kendyl Valenta (Brampton, Ont.) stopped 25 of 27 shots and Brenley Jorgensen, last week's Varsity Blues athlete of the week, would add a pair of goals in the victory. 

Toronto struck first in the opening frame of the contest on a goal by veteran forward Annie DelGuidice. The Hamilton native tipped a wrist shot from Amy Cornell (Oakville Ont.) that fooled York goaltender Sydney McMurter (Orillia, Ont.). 

The Blues would then double their lead at 13:41 of the first period. After some hard work on the forecheck by the Toronto forwards, a scramble ensued in front of the Lions’ net. Kingston, Ont. native Jorgensen picked up the loose puck and potted her 12th goal of the season to put Toronto up 2-0. 

The Lions would strike back on the powerplay with just over 30 seconds to go in the period to bring the score within one. After Kristie Wilson (Hamilton) was left alone in front of the Blues’ goal, Autumn Mills (London, Ont.) found her with a pass from behind the goal line for an easy tip-in, ending the period 2-1 in favour of Varsity.

U of T's leading scorer Lindsay Hill (Ajax, Ont.) would put the Blues up by two once again after a flurry of pressure from the home team at 5:21 of the second period. Hill picked up the rebound off of a Karolina Urban (Kamloops, B.C.) shot and sent it high into the top corner to restore the two-goal lead. 

Penalties dominated the middle part of the period, as the Lions had a 5-on-3 for over a minute that they could not convert on. Toronto had similar problems when they too could not find the net on their own powerplay after the Lions took a tripping call. 

The score would remain 3-1 heading into the third period. 

York would again cut the lead to one with just over six minutes gone in the third as Mandy Cole of Peterborough, Ont. scored on a fast-break rush by the Lions. 

The Blues denied the Lions any further opportunity throughout the remainder of the final frame and Jorgenson would add an empty-netter with just over a minute to go in regulation to seal the victory for the Blues. 

The Blues next home game is an exhibition contest against the Chinese Olympic team, which will take place on Wednesday, February 3 at U of T's Varsity Arena. The puck is set to drop at 7:30 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.