Box Score Fourth-year defenceman April Looije scored the game-winning goal with one minute remaining in overtime as the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey team defeated the No. 5 Queen's Gaels 2-1 on Saturday night (Jan. 10) at Varsity Arena.

Looije snuck into the zone and received a nice pass from veteran forward Amanda Ricker. A Mississauga native, Looije made no mistake, deking around Gaels goalie Caitlyn Lahonen to find the back of the net.

With the win, the Blues improve to 10-3-2 and move into sole possession of fourth place in the OUA standings. The Gaels drop to 11-2-3 and remain in second.
The Gaels held the momentum in the first period, registering a few good chances to score. Blues netminder Nicole Kesteris made 11 saves in the opening 20 minutes as the two teams remained deadlocked at the first intermission.

Fourth-year forward Jacqueline Scheffel had two opportunities to get the Blues on the board in the second. Midway through the period she nearly banged in a Rebecca Bourgeois point shot rebound, but Lahonen was there to make the stop. Then, four minutes later, she had a clear lane to the net, but her shot rang off the post.  

Queen's finally opened the scoring late in the second period when Taryn Pilon fed rookie Addi Halladay a pass on a 2-on-1 and she made no mistake finding the back of the net. The Gaels were up 1-0 heading into the final frame.

Things were looking grim for the Blues until third-year forward Taylor Day broke free in the high slot and came up with an amazing deke to beat a Gaels defender and Lahonen to even the score with 4:50 to go in regulation.

Kesteris made 34 saves in the win.

The Varsity Blues return to action this Thursday, January 15 as they travel to Guelph, Ont., for a tilt with the No. 6 Gryphons. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.

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