The No. 6 nationally-ranked University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey team defeated the TMU Bold 4-2 on Saturday (Jan. 20) afternoon at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in downtown Toronto.
 
With the two teams facing off on Friday (Jan. 19) night, the Blues elected to go with a different goalie in the game as third-year netminder Madison Roche got the nod for her first career start in the OUA.
 
The game was fast paced from the get go but it was the TMU Bold who struck first when Megan Breen found the back of the net on the power play. The Blues didn't allow the early goal to break them however, as midway through the period on the powerplay, fifth-year captain Taylor Trussler jammed in a loose puck in front of the Bold's net for her ninth goal of the season to tie the game at one. 
 
The second period didn't see any activity on the scoreboard until the late stages but it wasn't short of any activity. Late in the period the Blues got into some penalty trouble which included having to kill a five on three powerplay but they were up to the task. The defence were able to cut off lanes and get in front of Bold shots and Roche stood tall in the crease, making key saves when called upon. 
 
The Blues gained momentum after the penalty kill and took the lead with 14 seconds left in the period. Trussler gained possession as the Blues stormed into the offensive zone as Trussler and third-year forward Nikki McDonald passed the puck back and forth before Trussler buried it for her second goal of the night.
 
TMU got an equalizer early in the third period as Emily Baxter found the back of the net to tie the game at two. As both teams pushed to take the lead it was the Blues who got the edge. Second-year forward Emma Elders had the puck in the corner and set up third-year forward Emma Irwin who directed the puck into the back of the net to take the lead with under nine minutes remaining in the game.
 
With TMU's net empty the Blues battled to hold their one goal lead. They picked up an insurance goal as second-year forward Kaitlyn McKnight forced a turnover in the neutral zone and skated in all alone to ice the game in the Blues' favour.
 
Roche made 25 saves in her debut to pick up her first career win.
The Blues are back in action on Thursday (Jan. 25) morning when they take on the York Lions at Varsity Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 11 a.m. Tickets are available at varsityblues.ca/tickets and the game will be streamed live on oua.tv.