Box Score The Varsity Blues women’s hockey team dropped a 5-2 decision to the No. 10 Guelph Gryphons on Saturday, December 1 at Varsity Arena.
 
With the loss, the Blues drop to 9-6-1 and remain sixth in the OUA, behind the Windsor Lancers.
 
Marlie McLaughlin (Ottawa) and second-year forward Courtney Tougas (Thunder Bay, Ont.) scored for the Blues. Markham, Ont., native Kelly O’Hanlon picked up a helper to increase her team-leading point total to 20 on the season. O’Hanlon came into the game ranked sixth in the province in points.
 
Second-year goaltender Nicole Kesteris (Aurora, Ont.) was sharp in net, making 36 saves despite being credited with the loss.
 
Kesteris also shut down OUA-leading goal scorer and rookie Guelph forward Amanda Parkins with several big saves throughout the game.
 
Penalties proved costly for the Blues, as they gave up six powerplay opportunities, five of which came in the second period.
 
Kesteris stood tall, and killed off a 5-on-3 advantage for the Gryphons to start the second, but at 14:49, with another Blues player in the box, Jessica Pinkerton opened the scoring for the Gryphons with a cross-crease pass that bounced off Kesteris and into the back of the net.
 
Guelph would continue that momentum, grabbing two more goals before the midway point of the period. Tamara Bell and Emily Corbett registered the goals, with Corbett’s coming on a 5-on-3 powerplay. After Kesteris withstood a shooting gallery in the Blues end, the puck came to Corbett who took a slap shot that caught the top corner.
 
Toronto would not get on the board until five minutes into the final frame on McLaughlin’s goal. With the Blues on their first and only powerplay of the game, McLaughlin snuck in from the point and flipped a rebound shot overtop of Guelph netminder Brooke Siddall.
 
The goal went straight to U of T’s legs, and with still over half the period remaining, Tougas scored on a brilliant individual effort. Entering the Gryphons zone, the second-year forward faked a slapshot, waltzed around the defenceman, and picked the top corner to bring the Blues within one.
 
They continued to press the attack, but were unable to get the tying goal before Bell jammed home a rebound for her second of the night, and gave the Gryphons back the two-goal lead.
 
Christine Grant added a goal in the final minute to put the game on ice.

Bell finished the game with two goals and an assist, and Kaitlyn Mora picked up three assists in the Gryphon’s win.
 
The Blues return to action tomorrow (Dec. 2) when they travel to Oshawa to take on the UOIT Ridgebacks. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.

The University of Toronto is the proud host of the 2013 CIS women's hockey championship, March 7-10, at Varsity Arena.
 
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