The University of Toronto Varsity Blues field hockey team have earned a chance to defending their title following a 5-1 semi-final victory over the Waterloo Warriors on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 29) at the OUA championships in London, Ont.
 
The Blues are automatic qualifiers as hosts of next week's (Nov. 3-6) CIS championship, so the Guelph Gryphons, who defeated the Western Mustangs 1-0 in the second semifinal, earn the fourth and final spot on the national stage. The Canada West champion UBC Thunderbirds and silver medalist Victoria Vikes have already booked their tickets to Toronto.
 
The Blues will face Guelph for the 10th time in the past 12 years in tomorrow's OUA gold-medal match at 3 p.m.
 
Fourth-year forward Megan Johansen of Kelowna, B.C., opened the scoring in the ninth minute but Waterloo's Emma Young evened the score in the 17th minute and the two teams were deadlocked at halftime.
 
Fifth-year defender and four-time OUA all-star Alison Lee proved to be the hero, scoring the eventual game-winner in the 44th minute. OUA rookie of the year Rachel Spouge notched an insurance marker off a penalty corner in the 55th minute.
 
With the Warriors goalie pulled, Lee added her second of the game and fellow co-captain Lauren Sudac rounded out the scoring in the final minutes of the game.

Sara Fredo earned the victory in net for the Blues.  

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