In Game 3 of the OUA quarter-finals the No. 8 nationally-ranked University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey team defeated the Queen's Gaels 6-1 on Sunday (Feb. 25) afternoon at Varsity Arena. The Blues now move on to the semifinals where they will be facing off against the Guelph Gryphons.
 
With the stakes high the Blues were flying from the moment the puck was dropped. Toronto left it all on the ice and they were rewarded for their strong effort with an early goal.Third-year forward Katy McKenna secured a turnover in the offensive zone and third-year forward Aili McKeown was able to pick up the puck in tight and slipped the puck past Queen's goaltender Emma Tennant to give the Blues the early advantage. The Blues kept their foot on the gas for the remainder of the opening frame but McKeown's goal was the difference maker as the Blues exited the ice up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play.
 
In the second period Toronto didn't let up, scoring three goals in under two minutes. With the player advantage, first-year forward Ashley Delahey got the ball rolling for the Blues. After a great play by third-year defender Francesca Monte to keep the puck in the offensive zone, third-year forward Sophie Grawbarger sent a cross-ice pass to Taylor Delahey who sprung the puck to her twin sister, who was wide open in front of the Gaels net and finished off the highlight reel play to double the Blues lead.
 
Moments later, fifth-year captain Taylor Trussler introduced herself to the scoresheet in this series with a nifty backhand for her first goal of the series to give the Blue and White a three goal advantage. The Blues' offence wasn't done yet. Third-year defender Olivia Hilton joined the rush and fired a shot on net, leaving a rebound for third-year forward Abby Howland and finished off the play for her second goal of the series.
 
Queen's defender Kennedy MacAlpine got the Gaels on the board but with 20 minutes remaining in the game, Toronto went into intermission with a 4-1 lead. 
 
In the third period the Blues cemented their lead by adding two insurance goals midway through the final frame. Second-year forward Kaitlyn McKnight scored a power play goal to restore their four goal lead. Off the ensuing faceoff McKeown added her second goal of the game just five seconds later, firing one behind Tennant to make it 6-1 Toronto.
 
With 10 minutes left in the third, the Blues played their brand of hockey to keep the game out of reach for the Gaels. Fifth-year goalie Erica Fryer made some of the best of her 21 saves in the game as the clock ticked down to zero.