A 4-1 road victory over the Nipissing Lakers on March 4 means that the OUA's East division goes through Varsity Arena and the defending OUA champions. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: For much of the opening frame, the Blues and the Lakers went back and forth. Playing a very competitive period, both sides created chances but it looked as if the game would remain deadlocked heading into the intermission. However, with just 18 seconds to go in the first, Lauren MacDonnell jumped on a rebound and buried the puck into the back of the net to give the Blues a big momentum boost after twenty minutes of play.

During the second, the Blues began to establish control. Holding the Lakers to just six shots in the middle frame, Toronto was able to limit the home team's opportunities, before taking advantage of their own. With six minutes to go in the period, the Blues offence flipped the switch. Scoring two goals just 35 seconds apart, it was MacDonnell tallying her second of the game, followed by a goal from Kalie Chan which quickly gave the Blues a 3-0 lead.

Despite trailing by three heading into the third, the Lakers continued to hang around and did their best to battle back. With a little under 12 minutes to go in regulation, Nipissing would finally find a way past Blues goalie Erica Fryer, thanks to a goal from Jetta Derenoski. However, Toronto would not allow the Lakers to get any closer, and would eventually regain their three-goal lead on an empty-netter by Louie Bieman.

Like clockwork, Fryer was once again tremendous between the pipes for the Blues. Turning aside 26 of Nipissing's 27 shots, the Amherstburg, Ont., product remained undefeated on the season.
           
UP NEXT: Toronto will now look to lock up the top OUA record when they finish off their two-game road series against the Lakers on March 5. The contest will also mark the final game of the Varsity Blues regulars season schedule. Game time is set for 2:00 p.m.

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