First-year forward Natasha Athanasakos scored 15:12 into overtime as the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey team defeated the Ryerson Rams 3-2 in Game 3 of their OUA semifinal series on Sunday night (March 1) at Varsity Arena.
 
With the win, the Blues punch their ticket to the U SPORTS national championship for the second straight year. All four of U of T's playoff wins have come in overtime.
 
As the top seed in the OUA, Toronto will host the York Lions in the McCaw Cup Final on Friday, March 6 at 7 p.m. at Varsity Arena. Advance tickets are on sale here.
 
A criminology major from Markham, Ont., Athanasakos skated across the high slot and sent a wide-angled shot through traffic to beat Rams netminder Rachel Seely for the second time on the night.
 
"I didn't see much. I just threw it on net," said Athanasakos. "I didn't see it but everybody started cheering so you just start cheering. It was a team win, 100 percent. I think we showed how much heart and character we have and that's going to take us all the way."
 
Second-year Blues goaltender Erica Fryer was phenomenal between the pipes, posting 40 saves, including 10 in overtime.
 
"You're never scared with her back there," added Athanasakos. "She just holds her ground. Whenever we get caught, we see Fryer back there and we know we're going to be okay. We know she's going to stay on her feet and she's going to back us up."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Blues opened the scoring midway through the first period when rookie forward Lauren MacDonnell forced a turnover and Louie Bieman buried a Mathilde De Serres rebound. Toronto was up 1-0 after 20 minutes of action.
 
U of T extended their lead halfway through the second frame when Taylor Trussler fired a wide-angled shot and Athanasakos banged it in at the side of the net. Rams forward Laura Nicholson wired a shot into the top corner of the Blues net to get the Rams got on the board as the period wound down.  The Blues took a 2-1 lead into the intermission.
 
Ryerson scored six minutes into the third period as Olivia Giardetti found the back of the net while the Rams were shorthanded.
 
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