In a third and deciding game of the best-of-three 2023 U SPORTS Field Hockey National Championship, the No. 1 nationally ranked Toronto Varsity Blues came up short in a 3-0 defeat versus No. 2 Victoria Vikes on Sunday (Nov. 5) afternoon at Toronto's Back Campus Fields.

Toronto finished with their second national silver medal in the past three years, after also claiming their 32nd provincial title which earned them a spot in the national championship event this fall.

Action began with the visitors from Victoria applying immediate pressure on the home side, resulting in two early first quarter goals conceded by the Blues. Tallying the first goal for the Vikes at the two minute mark of the game was first-year forward Amanda Adams, while just over 60 seconds later second-year defender Julia Boraston doubled the Vikes lead off a short corner.
 
Entering the second quarter, Toronto showcased new urgency as they mounted two worthwhile breakouts courtesy a steal from third-year forward Mia Zurkovic and a strong run from second-year forward Elizabeth Assimes. However, the Vikes defence was able to prevent any shots on goal as they continued to stifle the Blues attacks. Victoria added to their lead just before the halftime break as first-year forward Josie Dunham chipped in a cross for her second goal of the championship.
 
The Blues looking to respond were provided with three short corner chances in the third quarter and several more in the fourth. During the Blues set pieces, Toronto relied on the sticks of 2023 U SPORTS All-Canadian Rebecca Carvalho, Game 1 goalscorer Mia Zurkovic, and OUA championship shootout game-winner Molly Cooper-Gray, but the Blues were unable to slide the ball past the Vikes defensive shell.
 
At the conclusion of the game Boraston was named Vikes player of the game, while third-year defender Harnoor Malhi earned the honours for Toronto following a valiant physical performance across all three games of the championship series.

Additionally, Victoria's Anni Kleinschmidt received the R.W. Fair Play Award for outstanding sportsmanship, while Vikes defender and midfielder Libby Hogg was honoured as Championship MVP.
 
The complete list of the 2023 U SPORTS Field Hockey Championship awards is included below:

Nike Team Players of the Game
Game 1: Rebecca Carvalho (Toronto), Libby Hogg (Victoria)
Game 2: Deepi Gill (Toronto), Chloe Langkammer (Victoria)
Game 3: Harnoor Malhi (Toronto), Julia Boraston (Victoria)

R.W. Pew Fair Play Award
Anni Kleinschmidt (Victoria)

Championship MVP
Libby Hogg (Victoria)