The Varsity Blues women’s hockey team fell 3-2 in overtime to the Guelph Gryphons on Saturday, October 22 at Varsity Arena.

With the loss, the Blues fall to 2-2-1 on the season, but earn a single point to stay in sixth place in the OUA.

Rookie defensemen April Looije (Mississauga, Ont.) and veteran forward Kelly O’Hanlon (Markham, Ont.) each tallied an unassisted goal for U of T.

Blues goaltender and Aurora, Ont., native Nicole Kesteris was stellar despite the loss, making 32 saves to keep U of T in the game. Guelph’s Kaitlyn Mora scored off a goal-mouth scramble with 21 seconds left in the first and Kimberley Wong buried a rebound on the powerplay at 6:34 of the second period to increase Guelph’s lead to two.

The Blues would battle back. After Looije bounced a point shot off a Guelph defender and into the net in the second period, O’Hanlon streaked in alone on a breakaway and made a nifty forehand-backhand deke before sliding the puck past Gryphon’s goaltender Stephanie Nehring to even the score at two in the third.

The Gryphons would score 47 seconds into overtime, when Jacky Sollis tucked a rebound past Kesteris to improve Guelph’s record to 5-1-0 and move them into first in the OUA.

Looije was named the Blues player of the game, while Sollis earned player of the game honours for Guelph.

The Blues return to the ice next Saturday, October 29, when they take on the Western Mustangs at Varsity Arena. Puck drop is 4 p.m.

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