The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey team dropped a 4-2 decision to the Guelph Gryphons in the 2018-19 McCaw Cup final on Saturday, March 9 in Guelph, Ont.

UP NEXT: Despite the loss, the Blues look forward to next week as they travel to Charlottetown for the 2019 U SPORTS national championship. Toronto and Guelph will join the Canada West champion Alberta Pandas and silver medalists Manitoba Bisons, the RSEQ champion Montreal Carabins and silver medalists McGill Martlets, the AUS champion St. Thomas Tommies and the host UPEI Panthers. The seeding and scheduling for next week will be announced tomorrow evening (March 10).

FROM HEAD COACH VICKY SUNOHARA: "I thought there were times when we were really good. We had a game plan going in and the positive is that a lot of their goals were in our control. If we had done our jobs and played 60 minutes, I think it could have been a different outcome."

HOW IT HAPPENED: Fifth-year forward Kassie Roache opened the scoring midway through the first period as she received a pass from Kiyono Cox and sent a booming shot past 2018-19 OUA goaltender of the year Valerie Lamenta.

The Gryphons answered back less than four minutes later as Claire Merrick redirected a Mallory Young shot through traffic. The game was deadlocked at 1-1 after 20 minutes.

Roache netted her second of the game 3:43 into the period as she sent a Cristine Chao rebound off the back of Lamenta and into the net. The Blues were up 2-1 heading into the second intermission.

Guelph evened the score just 31 seconds into the third frame as Katie Mikkelsen scored on the powerplay. The home team took the lead less than eight minutes later when Kristen Jay corralled a bouncing puck and found the back of the net.

Merrick added her second of the game with just under three minutes to seal the victory.

Rookie netminder Erica Fryer made some highlight-reel stops, posting 19 saves in the loss.

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