Box Score The No. 7 nationally ranked University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey team fell 3-2 to the No. 1 Guelph Gryphons on Saturday evening (Jan. 16) at Varsity Arena.
With the loss, the Blues drop to 6-2-4-3 (W-OTW-L-OTL) and sit in sixth place, while the Gryphons improve to 10-3-2-1 and remain atop the OUA standings.Â
Fifth-year defenceman April Looije opened the scoring midway through the first period as she wired a point shot off a Lauren Straatman faceoff win. Looije's shot went right through the traffic in front to beat Gryphons netminder Valerie Lamenta. The Blues were up 1-0 after 20 minutes of action.
U of T extended their lead just 6:43 into the second frame when second-year forward Megan O'Brien fought off a Gryphons clearing attempt in front of the net and slid the puck into the bottom left corner. The goal marked O'Brien's first career tally as a Varsity Blue.
The Gryphons got on the board with just under five minutes to go in the second period when rookie forward Claire Merrick finished off a 2-on-1 with veteran Averi Nooren. Toronto led 2-1 heading into the final frame.
Merrick notched her second of the game with just over five minutes remaining to even the game at 2-2. Then, with a Varsity Blue in the penalty box, the Gryphons completed the comeback as Meagan Lee buried a rebound on the powerplay with just 7.7 seconds remaining to secure the victory.
First-year Blues netminder Valencia Yordanov posted 25 saves in the loss.
The Varsity Blues are back in action next Saturday, January 23 as they head to St. Catharines, Ont., to take on the Brock Badgers. Game time is set for 7:15 p.m.
GAME NOTES: Following the game, both Toronto and Guelph stayed on the ice in support of Denna Laing #14strong
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