Box Score The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's hockey team fell 3-2 to the Windsor Lancers in Game 1 of the OUA West quarter-final series on Thursday evening (Feb. 20) at Varsity Arena.
 
The Blues will look to stay alive in the best-of-three series, which shifts to Windsor on Saturday for Game 2. Game 3, if necessary, will also take place in Windsor on Sunday night.
 
Brett Willows made a couple of early saves in the opening minutes, helping the Blues stymie the Lancers on their first powerplay opportunity of the contest. However, the men had trouble staying out of the penalty box, and the visitors were able to capitalize with their second man-advantage midway through the first period. Kenny Bradford's one-timer from the point on a pass from Saverio Posa beat Willows on his low blocker side.
 
Windsor almost doubled their lead moments later when Evan Stibbard pounced on a rebound in front of the Blues goal, but with an open cage Stibbard's attempt slid off the post and the score remained unchanged. Willows made a full extension for a toe save late in the first period, keeping the Blues in the contest with 17 saves through the first 20 minutes of play.
 
The Varsity Blues came out with more jump early in the second period, and were rewarded for their efforts with a Lancers penalty. Captain Blake Boddy made good on Toronto's special teams opportunity, evening the game at 1-1 with Dylan Heide drawing an assist on the play.
 
Windsor looked to regain their lead, earning another powerplay chance. However, Willows and the home penalty kill unit held tough in the middle frame to keep the game tied. Casey Knight then had a glorious opportunity to put the home team up for the first time, taking a pass from Heide on a 2-on-1, but the St. Walburg, Sask. native could not connect.
 
The teams looked set to go into the second intermission even, but late in the period a loose puck squeaked out of a scramble in front of Toronto's goal to Matt Beaudoin in the slot, who sniped it above Willow's glove hand to give the Lancers a one-goal lead with just 25 seconds remaining in the middle frame.
 
The visitors extended their lead while on the penalty kill in the third, breaking away on a 2-on-1 off a Blues turnover. Saverio Posa finished a pass from Mike Christoue into the open Toronto goal past a sprawling Willows, as the Lancers garnered a two-goal cushion with just under 15 minutes remaining.
 
The Blues came back within one midway through the third as Lane Werbowski fired the puck short-side on Parker Van Buskirk from the left corner, cutting the lead back down to one. The home side brought some maintained pressure into the Lancers end throughout the second half of the third, but Van Buskirk was up to the task, making more difficult saves and maintaining Windsor's advantage to the final buzzer.

Willows posted 44 saves in the loss. 
 
The Varsity Blues will look to even the best-of-three series at South Windsor Arena this Saturday evening. Puck-drop for Game 2 of the West quarter-final is set for 7:30 p.m. and the game will be available live at GoLancers.ca.

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