The Western Mustangs scored four powerplay goals as they Varsity Blues women’s hockey team fell 4-1 in Game 1 of a best-of-three quarter-final series on Wednesday night (Feb. 15) at Varsity Arena.

The loss makes Saturday’s game in London, Ont., do-or-die for the Blues. The puck drops at 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed live via SSN Canada.

The Mustangs were 4-for-6 on the powerplay, with the Blues going 0-for-8 on the night.

“Special teams was the difference tonight,” said Varsity Blues head coach Vicky Sunohara. “We have to put this game behind us and focus on getting the win on Saturday.”

Western opened the scoring on their first man advantage as second-year forward Carly Rolph (Guelph, Ont.) buried a Katelyn Gosling point shot 1:20 into the contest.

The Mustangs notched the eventual game-winner just 35 seconds later when Gosling (Mississauga, Ont.) skated off the half boards and sent a low shot through traffic to beat Blues goaltender Nicole Kesteris (Aurora, Ont.).

Western took the 2-0 lead into the second period.

The Blues finally got on the board midway through the second frame when fourth-year forward Callie Bazak (Peterborough, Ont.) buried a rebound off of Kaitlyn Bannon’s point shot to beat Mustangs netminder Kelly Campbell.

Western went up 3-1 4:17 into the third period as Michelle Saunders’ point shot went off a skate in front and into the net.  The Mustangs would add an insurance marker with just over five minutes remaining as Rolph’s cross-crease pass bounced off Marianne Filson’s skate and in.

Campbell was named the game’s first star for her 36-save performance, while Kesteris posted 24 saves in the loss.

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