The No. 10 nationally ranked University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey team fell 3-1 to the Western Mustangs at Varsity Arena on Friday (Nov. 22) night.  

Western jumped out to an early lead as forward Haylie Kirkpatrick got the Mustangs a 1-0 lead in the opening three minutes of the game. Despite the early lead for Western, the Blues were able to play strong hockey for the rest of the opening period as they fought off a strong Mustangs forecheck while first-year goalie Lyla McKinnon made 11 saves in the opening frame.

The second period was back and forth as both teams traded scoring chances but strong performances in goal from McKinnon and Western's Presley Daschuk kept the score at bay. The Blues pushed for an equalizer all period but with two seconds remaining in the second Kirkpatrick scored her second goal of the game to give Western a 2-0 advantage going into the second intermission.  

Early in the third period the Blues cut the deficit in half when second-year forward Christina Alexiou's third goal of the season made it a 2-1 game. The Mississauga, Ont., native received a pass from third-year forward Kaitlyn McKnight and Alexiou powered her way into the offensive zone and fired a shot blocker side past Daschuk and into the back of the net. 

U of T pushed for an equalizer as the game progressed as McKinnon, who finished the game with 26 saves, was poised in the crease to keep the Blues in the game. With McKinnon for the extra attacker, Mustangs forward Elizabeth Gauthier scored an empty net goal to secure a 3-1 win for the Mustangs.  

The Blues will be back in action on Saturday (Nov. 23) night as they host the No. 7 nationally ranked Guelph Gryphons on Pride Night at Varsity Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. with tickets available at varsityblues.ca/tickets. The game will also be streamed live on oua.tv.