The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's water polo team competed at the 2017 Harvard Invitational, March 4-5, in Boston.
 
Wagner 15, Toronto 4
 
The U of T women's water polo team had a rough start at its first-ever entry into the Harvard Invitational.
 
Facing off against the Wagner Seahawks, a top 20 ranked school in NCAA Division 1, the Blues quickly fell behind 2-0.  The team clawed its way back into the flow of the game and, with just a few seconds remaining in the opening half, trailed a very respectable 6-3.
 
However, Wagner pulled away with nine unanswered goals to secure the win.
 
Ana Miroslavic (Toronto) tallied a hat trick with Rhianna Wood (Calgary) netting the other Blues goal.
 
Brown 10, Toronto 7
 
The Blues were back in the pool a few hours later to play its first-ever game against an Ivy league opponent.
 
The Brown University Bears opened the scoring, but this time the Blues responded to tie things up.  Brown then scored the next three goals before the Blues found the back of the net to trail 4-2.  
 
Rising to the occasion despite the manpower shortage, the Blues put on a solid display of team work on defence and kept the game close before bowing at the end.
 
Megan MacCormac (Ottawa) and Miroslavic each posted a hat trick, while Ali Kraft (California) added one.
 
Iona 11, Toronto 5
 
The Iona Gaels jumped out to a 4-2 first quarter lead.  They extended their lead to 6-2 at the half.  The Blues tried to get back into the game and trailed 7-4 early in the fourth quarter, but missed a penalty shot.  The miss seemed to take the steam out of the undermanned Blues, who gave up four unanswered goals before ending the game with a goal in losing 11-5.
 
Ana Miroslavic (Toronto) netted a hat trick, while Rhianna Wood (Calgary) and Ali Kraft (California) added singles.
 
Marist 14, Toronto 4
 
Less than three hours later, the Blues were back in the pool to face Marist College. It was the first game for the already heavily-favoured Red Foxes but the Blues surprised their opponent surging out to a 2-0 lead.  
 
However, three quick goals in the last two minutes of the opening quarter left the Blues trailing 3-2.  It was still the best quarter the Blues played in the tournament.
 
The Blues gave up six straight goals before adding one of their own and fell behind 9-3 midway through the third quarter.  Three late goals against contributed to the 14-4 loss.
 
Miroslavic, Wood, Megan MacCormac (Ottawa) and Marianne Tout (B.C.), in her last game with the Blues, each scored once for the Blues.
 
The Blues went 2-8 over the 10 games in the past two weeks and gained an incalculable level of experience playing against teams in the best women's league in the world.
 
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