Box Score Nicole Kesteris posted 34 saves in leading the Varsity Blues women’s hockey team to a 2-1 shootout win over the No. 8 Guelph Gryphons on Saturday, October 27 at Varsity Arena.
 
The Blues continue their hot start to the season with their fourth straight victory. Their 6-1-1 record lifts them into a three-way tie with Queens and Laurier for first place in the OUA.
 
Stacey Oue (Scarborough, Ont.) had U of T’s lone goal in regulation time, while Callie Bazak (Peterborough, Ont.) scored the shootout winner. Taylor Day (Ilderton, Ont.) picked up the only assist on Oue’s goal. Day continues her impressive rookie season, and was named the game’s first star.
 
Kesteris added to her already remarkable 0.933 save percentage by making 34 saves and stopping every attempt in the shootout en route to the win.
 
Toronto’s special teams made a huge difference, as they went 1-for-3 on the powerplay, and killed off all five penalties.
 
Oue opened the scoring midway through the first on the man advantage. Oue capped off some excellent puck movement by the Blues when she one-timed a pass from Day and beat Guelph goaltender Brooke Siddall.
 
The Gryphons responded in the second period on a goal from Talia Paone. Kesteris made the initial save, but the Blues were unable to find the rebound, and the puck bounced to Paone who jammed it in the net.
 
Kesteris shone through the third and into overtime, making 17 saves to help get the game to a shootout. Leading OUA point-getter and Gryphons forward Amanda Parkins had several quality scoring chances but Kesteris was up to the task.
 
The teams traded scoring chances in overtime. Kesteris slid across to rob Christine Grant on a one-time opportunity, and Callie Bazak stole the puck at the Guelph blueline and raced in alone, but was denied by Siddall.
 
With the score still tied after the overtime period, the game went to a shootout, where Kesteris continued to stump the Gryphons shooters, stopping all three shots.
 
That set the stage for Bazak, who continued her clutch play during sudden death this season, and wired a slapshot top corner over Siddall’s glove to give the Blues the win.
 
The Blues are back in action next Saturday, November when they travel to Oshawa, Ont. to take on the UOIT Ridgebacks. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
 
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