Third-year forward Stephanie Ayres scored the game-winning-goal midway through the third period to lead the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey team to a 2-1 victory over the Laurier Golden Hawks on Saturday night (Jan. 26) in Waterloo, Ont.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Laurier opened the scoring late in the first period as a flurry of Golden Hawks crashed Toronto's net and Nicole Shaw was there to put it in. The home team took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

The Blues evened the score in the dying minutes of the second frame as veteran forward Kiyono Cox buried a rebound on the powerplay. The two teams were deadlocked at 1-1 after 40 minutes of action.

Ayres proved to be the game's hero as she scored U of T's second powerplay goal of the game midway through the third period. The Hearst, Ont., native found herself all alone at the side of the net and banged home a Jana Headrick point shot rebound to secure Toronto's eight straight victory.

WHKY: TORONTO GOAL! Stephanie Ayres buries the rebound on the PP to put Toronto up 2-1 at Laurier midway through the third period! pic.twitter.com/JqcaarLHvD

— U of T Varsity Blues (@Varsity_Blues) January 27, 2019

Erica Fryer made 18 saves in the win.

UP NEXT: The Blues head to St. Catharines, Ont., to take on the Brock Badgers next Friday, February 1. The puck drops at 7:15 p.m.

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