In Game 1 of the best-of-three 2023 U SPORTS Field Hockey National Championship the No. 1 Toronto Varsity Blues defeated the No. 2 Victoria Vikes in an exciting shootout final at Toronto's Back Campus Fields on Friday (Nov. 3) evening .

Both the Blues and Vikes opened the contest with scoring opportunities, utilizing very different strategies throughout. For the Blues defence, they had to show patience as Victoria dominated possession of the ball through the opening two quarters. This was showcased especially by the play of 2023 U SPORTS All-Canadian Libby Hogg, who was able to control much of the middle of the park. Meanwhile, U of T's offence responded with fast breaks which resulted in keeping the teams all square 2-2 for shots on goal. However, the top two teams in the country remained deadlocked 0-0 at the halftime break.

Coming out of the intermission, the home crowd spurred on the Blues in a great third quarter from the home side. Toronto began with an early chance as they nearly found the net from a short corner deflection which went just wide of the far post. But then with another opportunity courtesy some nifty passing which set them inside the circle, third-year forward Mia Zurkovic was able to knock in a rebound to lift the Blues into the lead.

Entering the final frame up by one, Toronto was under immense pressure from the Vikes as the clock counted down. The duo of Nora Struchtrup and Julia Boraston both tallied a shot on goal for the Vikes in the back-and-forth contest. However, it was Hogg who found the equalizer with a straight shot from a short corner with under 60 seconds remaining in regulation, sending the match to a shootout.

In the shootout, Toronto was able to come out on top 3-2 as U of T goalie Deepi Gill helped the Blues claim their third consecutive shootout victory turning aside three Vikes shooters, including a spectacular effort from a penalty stroke. On the attack, the trio of 2023 U SPORTS All-Canadian Rebecca Carvalho, McKinley Kennedy, and Alicia Lung converted their shootout attempts.

Following the match, Toronto's fifth-year veteran Rebecca Carvalho earned player of the game honours for the Blues after converting her shootout opportunity and serving as a key defender throughout the night. On the other side, Hogg picked up the recognition for the Vikes following her dramatic last minute goal and brilliant midfield play.

"It feels really good, our plan was to play our best and that was what we were able to do," said Carvalho after the match. "Tomorrow we just need to do the same thing and come out hard and try and take it."

The Blues and Vikes are back in action for Game 2 tomorrow (Nov. 4) afternoon at Back Campus Fields. Action begins at 2 p.m. (EST) with tickets available at varsityblues.ca/tickets and the match also available online via cbcsports.ca.