The University of Toronto Varsity Blues field hockey team defeated the two-time defending champion York Lions 2-1 in the OUA semifinals on Saturday morning (Oct. 26) in Guelph, Ont.
 
OFF TO THE 'SHIP: With the win, the Blues advance to their first OUA final since 2016. Toronto will take on the winner of Guelph/Waterloo in the championship final tomorrow at 3 p.m. The winner of that game will also advance to the 2019 U SPORTS championship next weekend in British Columbia.

FROM HEAD COACH CASS MENDONCA: "I thought that we dominated the first two periods of play. In the third period the Lions came back and we were under a lot of pressure but we just played our game, kept possession of the ball and that led us to a win." 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: York's Lexi Hannah opened the scoring seven minutes into the contest, but fifth-year veteran Hilary Ziraldo evened the score with a nice move off a penalty corner just before the first quarter expired.
 
Blues leading scorer Emily Ziraldo notched the game-winning goal just five minutes into the second quarter and Toronto held off York from there.
 
Veteran goalie Liz O'Hara made two saves in the win.
 
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