The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey team did not go down without a fight, falling 3-2 to the top-ranked Alberta Pandas in quarter-final action on Day 2 of the 2019 U SPORTS championship in Charlottetown, P.E.I.
UP NEXT: With the loss, the Blues will face the loser of St. Thomas/McGill in a consolation semifinal tomorrow (March 16) at 12 p.m. EST.
FROM HEAD COACH VICKY SUNOHARA: "We couldn't have asked for more from the team. We showed up. We played their hearts out. We are very proud of them. For a team that got two votes all year from the U SPORTS Top 10, we did pretty well and I think that everybody in this building would agree. We had a lot of fire. We wanted it and we came out and played like that."
HOW IT HAPPENED: After a scoreless first period, Alberta got on the board as Taylor Kezama sent a shot through traffic into the top corner of the net.
The two teams traded chances throughout the second period, including a Lauren Straatman shot that trickled in the crease, but it was the Pandas who scored next. U SPORTS player of the year Alex Poznikoff received a cross-ice pass to send her on a partial breakaway and she made no mistake. Alberta led 2-0 after 40 minutes.
Fresh off a silver-medal finish at the 2019 FISU Winter Universiade in Russia, Straatman cut the deficit to one midway through the third period, burying a Jana Headrick rebound.
Alberta's Poznikoff scored on the powerplay in the dying minutes to restore the two-goal advantage, but rookie standout Taylor Trussler scored off a 2-on-1 with 30 seconds remaining to bring it back within reach.
Unfortunately the clock ran out before the Blues could complete the come back.
First-year netminder Erica Fryer made 13 saves in the loss.
2019 U SPORTS Women's Hockey Championship Schedule/Results
Thursday, March 14
Quarter-Final #1: Guelph 3, Manitoba 2
Quarter-Final #2: Montreal 3, UPEI 0
Friday, March 15
Quarter-Final #3: Toronto 3, Alberta 2
Quarter-Final #4: No. 4 St. Thomas vs. No. 5 McGill, 6 p.m. EST
Saturday, March 16
Consolation Semifinal 1: Manitoba vs UPEI, 9 a.m. EST
Consolation Semifinal 2: Toronto vs Loser QF #4, 12 p.m. EST
Semifinal 1: Montreal vs Guelph, 3 p.m. EST
Semifinal 2: Alberta vs Winner QF #4, 6 p.m. EST
Sunday, March 17
Consolation Final, 10 a.m. EST
Bronze Medal Game, 1:30 p.m. EST
Gold Medal Game, 5 p.m. EST
