The University of Toronto Varsity Blues dropped a 2-2 (1-3) shootout decision to the Victoria Vikes as the 2021 U SPORTS field hockey championship wrapped up at the University of Toronto's Back Campus Fields on Sunday evening.
 
U of T caps off their 2021 season with a 9-2-2 record, as U SPORTS silver medalists, marking their best finish since 2014.
 
"Our main goal of the season was to be top of our region, so we accomplished that, and then it was the OUA semifinals and finals and we did that," said Varsity Blues head coach Cassius Mendonça. "I think accomplished great things. To come out here and play the reigning champions and take them to three shootouts is an amazing accomplishment."
 
The Blues opened the scoring early in the first quarter as rookie standout McKinley Kennedy tapped in a Sam McCrory rebound off a penalty corner.
 
The Vikes found the equalizer in the 17^th minute as Janet Dawson forced a turnover and sent a centering pass to U SPORTS rookie of the year Chloe Langkammer, who redirected it into the back of the net. Toronto regained the lead off a penalty corner 10 minutes later as rookie forward Mia Zurkovic tipped in a McCrory shot. The Blues held a 2-1 lead at halftime.
 
Langkammer evened the score in the 48^th minute, receiving a long pass from Sajko in the circle and sending a backhand into the bottom right corner of the net.
 
OUA player of the year Katie Lynes earned the R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award for Toronto and scored the Blues lone goal in the shootout.
 
 
Championship MVP
Robin Fleming (Duncan, B.C.)
 
R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award
TOR: Katie Lynes (Oakville, Ont.)
 
Nike Team Players of the game
VIC: Anna Mollenhauer (Victoria, B.C.)
TOR: Katie Lynes (Oakville, Ont.)
 
SCORING SUMMARY
VIC: 0-1-0-1: 2
TOR: 1-1-0-0: 2
 
First quarter
TOR McKinley Kennedy (2), 5^th minute
 
Second quarter
VIC Chloe Langkammer (2), 17^th minute
TOR Mia Zurkovic (1), 26^th minute
 
Third quarter
No scoring
 
Fourth quarter
VIC Chloe Langkammer (3), 48^th minute
 
Shootout
VIC Cara Butler, goal                                      
TOR Sam McCrory, save                                             
VIC Anna Mollenhauer, goal                                       
TOR Anna Costanzo, save       
VIC Stefanie Sajko, goal                                                                                  
TOR Katie Lynes, goal            
VIC Madeline Mittelsteadt, miss
TOR Mia Zurkovic, save

Goaltenders
VIC: Robin Fleming (W, 60:00, 2 GA, 2-1)
TOR: Deepi Gill (L, 60:00, 2 GA, 1-2)