The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s hockey team’s season came to an end as they narrowly fell 1-0 to the Guelph Gryphons in OUA quarter-final action on Saturday, February 20 at Guelph Centre Arena.

Third-year Gryphons defenceman Jacky Sollis (West Vancouver, B.C.) scored the lone goal just 4:22 into the game, assisted by Tayne Hewer (Barrie, Ont.) and Jessica Zerafa (Mississauga,Ont.).

Toronto finished the season in fifth place with a 14-11-2 record and travelled to Guelph, Ont. for the second time in as many weeks for the sudden death quarter-final. The fourth-place Gryphons (14-10-3) dropped a 4-1 decision in their last game of the regular season (Feb. 14) as Toronto scored four first-period goals to gain an early lead that would not diminish.

The Blues came out slow this time around as the Gryphons outshot the visiting team 26-11 over the first two periods of play. Toronto netminder Kendyl Valenta of Brampton, Ont. stood on her head for 60 minutes to keep the game within reach.

Toronto upped the tempo in the third. Despite a couple of late powerplay opportunities, the Varsity Blues could not solve first-year Gryphons goaltender Danielle Skoufranis of Thornhill, Ont. as the Gryphons secured a spot in the semi-final round.

Toronto was 0-for-6 on the powerplay, while Guelph was 0-for-4.

Valenta posted 35 saves in the losing effort.