The Varsity Blues women's water polo team opened up the Montreal Invitational tournament by splitting a pair of games at the Olympic Pool.

Toronto dropped a 6-3 decision to CAMO and bounced back with a big 18-11 victory over McGill.

In the initial contest against the strong CAMO club team, the team got off to a sluggish start and never rounded into form.

Both teams struggled in the opening quarter, which produced no goals.  In the second quarter, the teams exchanged a pair of goals each to end the half tied 2-2.

CAMO then blitzed the Blues defence for three unanswered goals before the squads exchanged fourth-period goals, leaving CAMO as 6-3 winners.

Senior co-captain Megan MacCormac (Ottawa) and juniors Emily Kelvin-Davies (Maple Ridge, B.C.) and Rhianna Wood (Calgary) netted the Blues goals.  

Starting goalie Rachael Jaffe (Irvine, California) was strong in the net, turning aside numerous outside and close-in attempts.

In the evening, the Blues faced off in a historic first-ever match-up with McGill University, which joined the NCWP league this year.

The Blues jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead before McGill tallied twice late in the first period to trail 4-2.

Toronto then used a strong counterattack to blow the game open in the second quarter scoring four unanswered goals to lead 8-2 at the half.  Back-up goalie Amber Masse (San Jose, California) was solid in the net.

With the Blues using all players liberally in the second half, including third-string goalie Maddie Hertz (Miami, Florida), the game turned into a wide-open affair as the Blues eventually won 18-11.

Freshman Sara Sutherland (Regina) used her speed to have a monster game scoring eight goals mostly on the counterattack.  Freshmen Emma Brezoczky (Los Gatos, California) and Emily Grossman (San Jose, California) joined Wood scoring a pair of goals, while junior assistant captain Kassie Fraser (Vancouver) and freshmen Sara Wentling (Mohnton, Pennsylvania), Allie Vas (Yorba Linda, California) and Deena Charles (Langley, B.C.) added singles.

The Blues conclude the weekend tournament with Sunday morning games against the DDO club and Universite de Quebec a Montreal (UQAM).

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