Maja Samborski scored two third-period goals to lead the Brock Badgers to a 5-3 victory over the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s hockey team on Saturday, February 13 at Varsity Arena.

With only one regular season game remaining, the Blues drop to 13-10-2 and remain in fifth place in the OUA standings. The Badgers improve to 10-13-3 and are one point behind the Western Mustangs, who hold the last playoff spot.

The Badgers came out strong and even recorded a good scoring opportunity on their first penalty kill. Emily Hooper of Kingston, Ont. tipped Samborski’s (Toronto) point shot, however, Blues netminder Kendyl Valenta (Brampton, Ont.) was there to make the save.

On the ensuing play, Brenley Jorgensen (Kingston, Ont.) carried the puck down the ice and made a drop pass to linemate Lindsay Hill. The Ajax, Ont. native made no mistake, sending a low backhand under the blocker of Brock goaltender Beth Clause (Hamilton, Ont.) to get the Blues on the board.

The Badgers answered back on the powerplay with just over a minute remaining in the first period. Newmarket, Ont. native Karolyn McIlloyle jumped on a Courtney Stevens (Ottawa) rebound to even the score at 1-1 heading into the first intermission.

Brock continued to pressure when shorthanded and were rewarded just 4:56 into the second frame when Kristen Desbury (Oshawa, Ont.) sent a booming slap shot from the point through traffic and into the net.

Blues captain Karolina Urban (Kamloops, B.C.) responded on the next shift as she came streaking down the ice to fend off a Badgers defender and found herself in all alone on Clause. The Kamloops, B.C. native slid the puck under Clause’s pad for her 10th of the season.

First-year Blues defenceman Kaitlyn Bannon (Stratford, Ont.) scored her first of the year as her long shot from just inside the blue line deflected off a Badgers defenceman to find the back of the net.

With just 45 seconds remaining in the second period, Brock’s Maggie Matheson (Kingston, Ont.) found herself in all alone on the Blues net. The fourth-year forward was denied by Valenta, however Hooper was there to bury the rebound for the Badgers second shorthanded goal of the game.

The game was deadlocked at 3-3 heading into the final frame.

Samborski came up with a huge powerplay goal for what would be the eventual game-winner 8:31 into the third period. Brock centre Kelly Walker of Brampton, Ont. won a clean draw straight to Samborski, who one-timed it over Valenta’s glove and into the net.

Samborski would add an empty-netter with 53 seconds to go to secure the 5-3 victory.

The Varsity Blues travel to Guelph, Ont. to take on the Gryphons tomorrow night (Feb. 14) in a game that could ultimately decide home-ice advantage for a sudden-death OUA quarter-final game.

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