The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey team defeated the York Lions, 5-3, on Saturday, November 3 at Canlan Ice Sports.

HOW IT HAPPENED: The Blues scored two goals in 55 seconds late in the first period. Veteran forward Kassie Roache opened the scoring as she picked off a Lions defenceman and made a nice deke around York goalie Lauren Dubie to backhand it into the open net.

Second-year forward Laura Ellis then buried a Jessica Robichaud rebound and Toronto took a 2-0 advantage into the first intermission.

The Lions got on the board 6:46 into the second period and evened the score five minutes later. Toronto responded though as Louie Bieman scored from the side of the net on the powerplay and Robichaud put the Blues back up by two, finishing off a nice play from captain Becki Bowering. Toronto was up 4-2 after 40 minutes of action.

York brought the game back within one as Leah Hibbert scored midway through the third period, but veteran Lauren Straatman added an empty-netter with 40 seconds remaining to seal Toronto's second straight victory.

Second-year Blues netminder Madeline Albert made 20 saves in the win.

UP NEXT: The Blues head to Oshawa, Ont., to take on the UOIT Ridgebacks in a School Day game next Friday, November 9 at 11:30 a.m.

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