The No. 8 nationally-ranked Varsity Blues women's hockey team fell 3-2 in overtime to the No. 3 Nipissing Lakers on Sunday (Dec. 3) afternoon.
 
Both teams were flying out of the gate, despite playing each other the night before. Despite being outshot 13-8 in the opening frame, fifth–year goaltender Erica Fryer was strong, turning away each shot she faced in the first period of her 100th career OUA game. Fryer finished the game with 26 saves.
 
Just over three minutes into the second period, the Lakers broke the ice as Ashlyn Zaharia beat Fryer glove side to give the Lakers a one-goal lead. Despite being down a goal, the Blues spent the second period pushing for an equalizer, doubling the Lakers shot total in the period – firing 10 towards Nipissing's goaltender, Chantelle Sandquist.
 
Late in the second period, Toronto got their equalizer. Fifth-year forward Taylor Trussler stole the puck from a Nipissing player as the Lakers tried to break out of their own zone. The puck ended up on the stick of third-year forward Aili McKeown, who put it in the back of the net as the second period ended deadlocked at one.
 
In the third period, both teams pushed for offence as Fryer and Sandquist exchanged punches in the crease. The Blues took the lead midway through the third period when first-year forward Abby Whitworth picked up a burst of speed as she powered her way across the ice before finishing off the individual effort, giving the Blues their first lead of the game.
 
The Lakers threw everything they had at the Blues net in the late stages of the third period and with 85 seconds remaining in the game, Lakers forward Katie Chomiak got the equalizer to send the game to overtime.
 
Overtime was fast paced and was over in just 58 seconds. The Blues got an early chance but couldn't find the back of the net before the Lakers got a chance the other way. Lakers forward Maggie McKee was sprung for a breakaway, scoring her fourth goal of the season to secure the win for the Lakers.
 
The Blues will return to action after the December exam break on Friday, Jan. 5 for a road game against the York Lions. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on OUA.tv.