The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's lacrosse team open competition at the 2024 OUA Championship this Friday, Oct. 27 at Kiwanis Field in St. Catharines, Ont.

With several close contests throughout the fall, Toronto concluded their regular season schedule with a 2-7 record. Despite the tough sledding throughout their fall campaign, the Blues offence was able to find rhythm, scoring double-digit goals in five of their nine games. This allowed U of T to score a total of 82 goals across the entirety of their regular season, averaging 9.1 goals per game.

Leading the charge once again for the Blues was third-year attack Rheanna Swanson, who finished the regular season with 16 goals scored. The dynamic attacker consistently found a way onto the scoresheet, including registering three separate hat-tricks this fall. Also chipping in with 16 goals though has been Varsity Blues newcomer Holly Bureau, who recorded a goal in each and every one of the nine matches so far this season.

Meanwhile, the Blues defensive zone has been led by second-year goalie Elizabeth McDonald and defenders Lauren and Taylor Wilcox. A former hockey goalie and soccer player, McDonald has swiftly picked up and excelled with the U of T women's lacrosse team, while the Wilcox twins have provided the Blues with tremendous leadership as fourth-year veterans.

"This has been one of the closest-knit teams we have coached," said Varsity Blues women's lacrosse head coach Jesse Porter. "We are so lucky to work with such a wonderful group of supportive, ambitious, and compassionate women who will continue to make a difference in the world, each in their own unique way. We look forward to staying focused and resilient throughout the OUA championship tournament."

The Blues will be looking to match or better their result from a year ago when they finished fourth overall at the OUA Championship. The last provincial medal for Toronto came with a win over the Laurier Golden Hawks in a bronze medal match in 2017.

Action begins Friday (Oct. 27) afternoon at 2:45 p.m. against the Trent Excalibur, followed by a late Friday match versus the host Brock Badgers.