The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's water polo team had a tale of two extremes on the final day of both the Tina Finali tournament at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks and the 13-game, nine-day California competition tour.
 
After arguably the team's best performance of the tour the night before against #26 Cal Baptist, the Blues limped into the early morning game the next day against the Azusa Pacific Cougars. From the very start, the Blues players had no energy and could get nothing going on offence while the defence faltered as well. In the end, there was nothing to speak about in an 18-0 loss to the Cougars.
 
However, just when it looked like the end of the tour would be disastrous, the Blues players rallied behind co-captains Sarah Wentling and Kaitlyn Palmer, who were playing their very last game as members of the Blues.
 
The spirit started during the game introductions when the Cal Lutheran announcer paid tribute to "seniors Philly (Wentling) and Lefty (Palmer) who are playing in their final game as members of the UofT Varsity Blues". 
 
The Blues jumped out to an early 1-0 lead only to see the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds tie things up on the next attack.  The Blues then struck for two quick goals before the Sunbirds countered with a power play goal six seconds from the end of the first quarter leaving the Blues ahead 3-2.
 
The teams traded goals to start the second quarter and then the Blues added one more to lead 5-3 at the half.
 
The Sunbirds scored early in the third period to pull within one  but the Blues offence came alive with a pair of markers to provide a 7-4 lead entering the final frame.
 
After winning the first three quarters by a goal each, the Blues settled for a 2-2 tie in the fourth quarter to end the tournament and the competition tour with a 9-6 victory.
 
Devon Lynch led the way for the Blues with a hattrick.  Hannah Levin and Emma Benoit each popped in a pair of goals.  Wentling and Palmer ended their Varsity Blues careers with a goal each in their final game.  Hana Truchla was steady in goal and kept the Sunbirds shooters in check.
 
Overall, the Blues went 5-8 on the grueling tour.  The team's two best games were against the two toughest opponents (#8 Long Beach State and #26 Cal Baptist).  Levin led all Blues scorers with 23 goals.  Opposing coaches noted the high level of play exhibited by goalies Truchla and Averi Doxtator.
 
"We learned a lot about the team during the tour" said Varsity Blues head coach George Gross, Jr.  "The players also learned a lot about each other and what it takes to play at this level.  They learned how to navigate the highs and lows of intense competition where performances in games varied significantly.  While it is easy to be excited about the team's performances against the two NCAA nationally ranked teams, I was most proud of the team's poise to come back repeatedly against Cal Lutheran (triple overtime golden goal victory) and determination in overcoming exhaustion to beat Fresno Pacific at the end of the tour.  These results bode well for next year."