Box Score The Varsity Blues men’s hockey team dropped a 3-1 decision in the second half of a two-game set against the visiting Windsor Lancers on Saturday, November 3 at Varsity Arena.
 
The Blues lost both games against the Lancers this weekend to fall to 5-2-1. They are now two points back of UQTR for the East division lead.
 
Michael Markovic (Toronto) scored the Blues only goal of the contest. The veteran centre now has goals in back-to-back games, and was named the game’s third star. St. Catharines native Tyler Turcotte picked up the only assist on Markovic’s goal.
 
Sophomore goaltender Brett Willows (Rivers, Man.) was sharp in net. He made 25 saves, including stopping a penalty shot attempt, in his first loss of the season.
 
For the second straight game, neither team was able to crack the other’s defensive wall in the first period. Willows made saves on all 12 of Windsor’s shots, and Michael Markovic deflected a shot off the crossbar behind Parker Van Buskirk, who started on back-to-back nights in the Windsor goal.
 
The second period saw a glut of penalties awarded to both teams, but it was the Lancers who ultimately capitalized on the man advantage. Willows made a series of miraculous saves on the play, but couldn’t squeeze the puck between his pads for the whistle, and Evan Stibbard knocked it just over the goal line to put the Lancers up 1-0.
 
Toronto was quick to respond, evening the score at 1-1 just three minutes later. After some wild action in the Windsor zone, the puck eventually found its way to Markovic who potted his second goal in the past two games.
 
But the Blues sent Windsor back to the powerplay in the latter stages of the second, and Spencer Pommels wired a slapshot high over the Willows’ glove to give the Lancers back the lead.
 
Trailing by one, U of T came out flying in the final period, outshooting Windsor 15-2. Stibbard had an opportunity to increase the lead midway through the frame on a penalty shot, but Willows stuck with him and threw out the right pad to keep Toronto’s hopes alive.
 
Markovic would find the iron frame of the net once more on a shot from the half boards, but that would be as close as the Blues would come, as Stibbard grabbed the empty-netter for the second straight game to give Windsor the win.
 
The Lancers were led by a three-point effort from Pommels, and Stibbard’s two points. The two forwards were named the first and second stars, respectively.
 
The Blues return to action this Thursday, November 8 when they travel to Guelph to take on the Gryphons. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

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