In Game 1 of an OUA  best-of-three quarter-final series, the No. 8 nationally ranked University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey team fell 3-1 to the Queen's Gaels at Varsity Arena on Wednesday (Feb. 21) night.

In the high stakes game, both the Blues and Gaels came out firing on all cylinders, but a favourable bounces went the Gaels way early. In the first period Logan Biggs opened the scoring with an opportunity created from a bounce off the end boards. Despite being down early, Toronto was quick to respond as third-year defender Kalie Chan took a shot from the blueline that deflected off of a Queen's player in front and ricocheted into the back of the net to tie the game. As the period went on, fifth-year goaltender Erica Fryer made key saves, some of the best of her 16 in the game, to keep the game tied at one. However, the Gaels struck in the final minute of the opening frame when forward Scout Watkins-Southward pounced on a loose puck in front of the net and saw the Blues trailing by one goal after the first period.
 
In the second period both teams continued trading chances. Queen's added to their lead in the late stages of the second as chaos ensued in front of Toronto's crease, Sarah Campbell delivered a shot that made its way through the traffic and into the Blues net. U of T pushed for more offence as the period continued, but excited the ice trailing by two goals after 40 minutes of play.
 
In the third, the Blues mounted further pressure, getting high quality chances as they left it all on the ice looking to tie the game. Luck wasn't in the Blue and White's favour though as the Gaels defence continued to block shots and the puck continued to stay out of the back of the net as the final buzzer sounded a Queen's Game 1 win.
 
With their backs against the wall, the Blues will look to force a Game 3 when the head to Kingston, Ont., on Friday (Feb. 23) night in the second match of the series. Puck drop in the critical road contest is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on OUA.tv.