Box Score The Varsity Blues women’s hockey team snapped the Brock Badgers 12-game winning streak in a convincing fashion with a 4-3 victory on Sunday, January 9 at Varsity Arena.

With the win, the Blues improve to 10-8-0 and remain in fourth place, while the Badgers drop to 15-3-0 and sit in second in the OUA.

In what proved to be a thrilling game full of highlight-reel goals, Toronto struck first with a marker off the stick of fourth-year forward and Varsity Blues player of the game Amanda Fawns. The Scarborough, Ont., native received a pass from Emily Milito behind the net and one-timed it past Brock’s veteran goaltender Beth Clause (Hamilton, Ont.).

The pace quickened throughout the period and Brock evened the score when OUA leading scorer and team captain Kelly Walker of Brampton, Ont., skated in over the blue line, received a pass from Megan Keane and made no mistake, wiring a shot into the bottom right corner of the net.

Walker got the go-ahead goal eight minutes into the second period on a powerplay, skating off the half boards and sending a beautiful shot over the glove of Blues rookie goaltender Nicole Kesteris (Aurora, Ont.).

The Blues responded on a 2-on-1 opportunity when first-year forward Amanda Ricker of Kanata, Ont., fed a pass to a wide-open Brenley Jorgensen who redirected it past a sprawling Clause. Kesteris left the game with an injury and the game remained deadlocked at 2-2 heading into the final frame.

Both teams came out flying in the third period, with the Badgers striking first. Fourth-year forward Karolyn McIllmoyle of Newmarket, Ont., shot the puck that trickled past Toronto goalie Melissa Muir on the first powerplay opportunity of the period.

Things were looking rough for the Blues until Milito banged in a Ricker rebound to even the score with six minutes to go. Toronto carried that momentum onto the next shift and Blues captain Karolina Urban of Kamloops, B.C., finished the job, netting the game-winner under two minutes later.

The Blues came up big in the last minute of the game, killing off a Natalie Hughes interference penalty. A couple of big saves from Muir and some excellent shot blocking from Fawns sealed the deal as the final buzzer sounded with the Blues on top.

Kesteris posted 25 saves before leaving the game and Muir followed that up with a 12-save performance. Milito recorded one goal and two assists in the win.

The Varsity Blues return to the ice next Friday, January 14 when they travel to Kingston, Ont., to take on the Queen’s Gaels. Game time is set for 8:30 p.m.

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