The No. 5 nationally-ranked University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey team won 6-1 against the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks on Thursday (Feb. 8) night at Varsity Arena.
 
The Blues got off to a good start in the game but it was the Ridgebacks who found the back of the net first. With the help of a screen from an offensive player, Perri Milano's shot found the back of the net, putting the Blues down by a goal early. 
 
With the crowd bleeding blue, the Blues didn't let the early goal faze them. Third-year defender Francesca Monte found the back of the net for the equalizer as her shot trickled its way past Ridgebacks goaltender Zoe McGee to tie the game at one.
 
Keeping their foot on the gas pedal, Toronto scored again 65 seconds later as first-year forwards Ashley Delahey and Taylor Delahey stormed their way into the offensive zone as the latter received a pass and beat a diving McGee to put the Blues ahead.
 
Taylor Delahey found her way on the scoresheet again, this time with an assist, capitalizing on an Ontario Tech misplay of the puck. Third-year forward Emma Irwin buried Delahey's rebound to put the Blues up 3-1 after 20 minutes of play.
 
In the second period, the Blues added to their lead with Delahey finding the back of the net again. The Markham, Ont. native received a pass from her twin sister on the breakout and danced her way around a Ridgebacks defender, finding the back of the net for her ninth goal of the season, making it a 4-1 lead for the blue and white.
 
Less than a minute later the Blues added to their lead, putting Ontario Tech's defence on their heels with sustained offensive zone pressure. As the Blues cycled the puck, third-year defender Kalie Chan fired a shot on net, leaving a rebound for an uncovered Katy McKenna who buried the puck for her third goal of the season. 
 
Leading by four goals as the third period started the Blues added to their lead as third-year forward Aili McKeown flew into the offensive zone, while Emma Elders snuck her way behind the defence to put in the rebound for her eighth goal of the season. 
 
For the rest of the game, the Blues played shutdown defence to hold their lead until the final buzzer sounded. Erica Fryer made 12 saves as the Blues left the ice at Varsity Arena with a 6-1 win.
 
The Blues play again on Sunday (Feb. 11) afternoon against the Queen's Gaels in Kingston, Ont. Puck drop is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. and the game will be streamed on oua.tv.