Box Score Photo GalleryThe University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey team dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to the visiting Nipissing Lakers on Friday night (Nov. 27) at Varsity Arena.
Special teams would play a major role in the game. After a scoreless first period, second-year forward Kassandra Roache ended the deadlock 5:28 into the second with an incredible individual effort. The Corunna, Ont., native skated in off the blue line and deked around a Nipissing defender, before beating Lakers goaltender Jacqueline Rochefort top shelf to give the Blues the 1-0 lead after two periods.
Early in the third period, veteran forward Taylor Day put the Blues up by two on the powerplay, backhanding a perfectly placed shot off of Rochefort from behind the net that ricochet in.
The 2-0 lead was short-lived however, as Lakers captain Carly Marchment got her team on the board just over one minute later. Then, with five minutes remaining in regulation, Nipissing forward Kaley Tienhaara scored a powerplay marker to tie things up at 2-2 and send the game to overtime.
Second-year forward Taylor Murphy proved to be the game's hero, as she came streaking down the ice on a 2-on-1 and elected to shoot, beating Blues netminder Valencia Yordanov for the game winner.
Yordanov posted 24 saves in the loss.
The game marked U of T's fourth annual Holiday Toy Toss. Fans who brought a plush toy tossed it onto the ice during the first intermission. All donations benefit the University of Toronto Students' Union food bank, supporting all students and families in need on the St. George Campus.
The Varsity Blues are right back at it tomorrow night (Nov. 28) welcoming the Laurentian Voyageurs to Varsity Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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