The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's water polo team opened its 2023-24 season by winning three of four games at the annual U of T Fall Classic tournament this past weekend at the Athletic Centre.

The Blues were playing after only two weeks of practices, were missing two regulars, and lost a starter after Day 1. In addition, the team was integrating six first-year players. Combined with early season form, it made for an uneven set of performances.

DAY 1 – GAME 1: BLUES  5 Mercyhurst University Lakers  6
The Blues jumped out to a 2-0 first quarter lead. The team used a new variation of its vaunted press defence to continuously thwart the attacks from the NCAA Division II Lakers. The Blues got a taste of their own medicine in the second quarter getting shut out. However, the press defence again held Mercyhurst at bay and Toronto entered the second half leading 2-0.

The third quarter proved to be the Blues undoing as the Lakers suddenly broke through for four straight goals before trading goals with the Blues, who found themselves down 3-5 entering the final frame. U of T stormed back in the second half of the fourth quarter, but the comeback fell a goal short.

Five different Blues players found the back of the net: Hannah Levin, Chloe MacVicar, Devon Lynch, Sidney Gagne and Lillian Wheatley (her first career goal as a Varsity Blue). Hannah Truchla had an outstanding first half putting up a shutout before exiting.

DAY 1 – GAME 2: BLUES  12 Capital Wave  6
The Blues second game of the day was against the club team Capital Wave (Ottawa). Interestingly, after four years with the Blues and being co-captain last year, Kaitlyn Palmer returned to Varsity Pool as a member of the opposition.

Again, the Blues jumped out to an early first quarter lead (3-1), but saw that evaporate in the last two minutes of the quarter leaving the teams tied 3-3 entering the second period. In that quarter, Toronto actually fell behind 3-4 early, but roared back to score five unanswered goals and carry an 8-4 lead into the second half.

Toronto stretched their lead by three with a shutout quarter before coasting home in the fourth for a 12-6 win.

Levin and Lynch led the way with hat-tricks. Vega Jones notched a pair of goals, while MacVicar, Gagne, co-captain Julia Decaire and Ava Stimson with her first career goal each netted singles.

DAY 2 – GAME 1: BLUES  13 Greenwich Aquatics Club  8
Toronto opened up Day 2 of the tournament with an early 8 a.m. matchup against the highly touted age group club from Connecticut, Greenwich Aquatics.

Continuing the string of fast starts, the Blues raced out to a 4-1 first quarter advantage. The stifling press defence worked perfectly in the second period while the offence continued to hum, netting five straight markers to put Toronto out in front 9-1 at the half.

The teams fought to a 2-2 deadlock in the third quarter. The Blues then tailed off allowing the visitors to win the final frame and make the result more respectable at 13-8.

Levin had a monster game on offence scoring five times. Newcomer Josie Andrist showed she will be a factor right off the bat by producing a hat-trick for her first goals as a Varsity Blue. Decaire and MacVicar each potted a pair of goals, while Jones added the final tally.

DAY 2 – GAME 2: BLUES  11 Queen's University Gaels  2
The final game of the tournament featured a rematch of last year's NCWP championship final game between the Blues and the Queen's Gaels.

Unlike the previous tilts, the Blues had a sluggish and erratic opening quarter and found themselves tied 2-2. 

However, the press defence combined with the Blues elite goaltending shut the door for the final three quarters, allowing the offence to get untracked scoring four times in the second and third periods. Adding one more in the fourth quarter gave Toronto an 11-2 victory.

Levin and Stimson notched a pair of goals each. Seven different players found the back of the net: Jones, Andrist, Wheatley, Gagne, Decaire and Liana Sheridan and Amy Pearce (both with their first career goals).

Truchla and Averi Doxtator split the goaltending duties and were flawless in the final three quarters.

Up next for the Blues are home once again on Monday, Oct. 16 versus the McMaster Marauders, followed a few days later by a weekend trip to the U.S. to play four NCAA Division I schools (Mount St. Mary's, Villanova, La Salle and Wagner).