The No. 8 nationally ranked Varsity Blues women's hockey team were defeated 4-3 by the No. 3 Nipissing Lakers in North Bay on Saturday (Dec. 2) night.
 
Both teams came into the game on hot streaks as the Blues were undefeated on the road this season so far, facing off against a Lakers squad that had yet to be beaten on home ice.

The Lakers struck first in what was a back-and-forth hockey game. Lakers forward Katie Chomiak picked up a scoring chance while the Blues were on the powerplay, finding the back of the net for a shorthanded marker to give Nipissing a 1-0 lead. Despite being down by a goal, the Blues were dictating play throughout the first period. Then on a delayed penalty call against the Lakers, Toronto answered back when third-year forward Aili McKeown's backhand shot beat Lakers goalie Chantelle Sandquist glove side to tie the game heading into the first intermission.
 
In the second period, the Lakers regained the lead in the first minute courtesy a goal from defender Kara Den Hoed. Despite Nipissing striking early, the Blues were able to shake it off and tie the game once again as third-year defender Kalie Chan found third-year forward Sophie Grawbarger alone in front for her third goal of the season. The Blues kept their foot on the gas after tying the game and were rewarded with their first lead when during a scramble for a loose puck in front of the Lakers net, fifth-year defender Caroline Eagles potted a go-ahead goal to have U of T up at the end of the second period.
 
However, just over two minutes into the third period Chomiak netted her second goal of the game for Nipissing, this time on the power play. With the game tied at three in the third period, both Sandquist and Blues goalie Erica Fryer traded saves as both offences were looking for the crucial fourth goal. Fryer would finish the night with 20 total saves, while a very busy Sandquist registered 29 saves.
 
With under five minutes remaining in the game, Chomiak scored her third goal of the game – the eventual game-winner. The Blues gave the Lakers everything they had as they pushed for an equalizer, but the final buzzer sounded as the Lakers edged out the Blues in the end.
 
Toronto and Nipissing will meet again tomorrow (Dec. 3) afternoon for the second of back-to-back games. The Sunday showdown will mark the Blues final game of 2023 as the OUA will head into the winter break. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on oua.tv.