The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey team defeated the Guelph Gryphons 2-1 in overtime in Game 2 of their OUA quarter-final series on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 22) at Gryphon Centre Arena.
 
Third-year forward Laura Ellis sniped the OT winner 12:52 in to the extra frame, sending the Blues to the OUA semifinals for the second straight season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Blues dominated offensively early on in the first, outshooting the Gryphons 7-0 through the first 10 minutes. Guelph tested Toronto goalie Erica Fryer late in the frame, but she came up with some big saves to keep the game scoreless after 20 minutes.
 
Five minutes into the second, rookie forward Natasha Athanasakos stole the puck off the boards and buried it high on Gryphons goalie Aurore Beaulieu to open the scoring. The Blues aggressive offensive play continued but could not get another goal on the scoresheet, heading into the third. 
 
With their season on the line, Guelph was desperate to get on the board to tie the game up. 12 minutes into the frame Rylee Davidson banked a puck in from behind the net to keep their season alive. Both teams exchanged shots to round out the frame, as they headed to overtime for the second straight game.
 
Fryer made 26 saves in the victory
 
UP NEXT: The Blues will host Game 1 of thier best-of-three OUA semifinals series this coming Wednesday (Feb. 26) agaisnt the winner of Ryerson/Brock.
 
For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite U of T athletes and teams, please visit www.varsityblues.ca. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for the latest and greatest in Varsity Blues intercollegiate athletics.