The No. 8 nationally ranked University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey team put up an impressive offensive performance in a 6-2 victory over the TMU Bold on Thursday (Jan. 30) night at Varsity Arena. 

The Blues scored the lone goal in the first 20 minutes of play courtesy of fourth-year forward Emma Irwin, who scored her fifth goal of the season on a play by third-year forward Emma Elders. Elders came flying down the wing, drove to the front of the net, and found Irwin who shot through the five hole of TMU goaltender Alexia Stratos. In the defensive zone, the Blues penalty kill was strong in the first period to keep momentum on their side, coming up with blocked shots and cutting off passing lanes to kill the five-on-three TMU power play. Each team recorded eight shots in the opening frame.

In the second period the Blues offence exploded for three goals both teams traded punches on the scoreboard. TMU tied the game at 1-1 with a goal from Mia Morano but Toronto was quick to respond on a goal by Ashley Delahey. The Markham, Ont. native retrieved the puck in the offensive zone and as she headed towards the net she fired a shot top shelf to restore the Blues lead. TMU's Cailey Davis responded with her third goal of the season to tie the game, but 21 seconds later third-year forward Kaitlyn McKnight answered with her third goal of the season, scoring off a rebound from fourth-year forward Sophie Grawbarger's shot to restore Toronto's lead again. 

In the final two minutes of the second period, Elders fired a pass through two Bold defenders to spring second-year forward Abby Whitworth on a breakaway. Whitworth finished the play off by scoring five-hole for her first goal of the season, giving the Blues a 4-2 lead after two periods of play. 

Delahey and McKnight each added another goal to their totals in the third period. Delahey scored to make it 5-2 for the Blues as Aili McKeown and Scout Watkins-Southward picked up assists on the goal. Meanwhile, McKnight made it 6-2, retrieving the puck from Grawbarger and dekeing her way to the goal, beating Stratos for her fourth goal of the season. 

As the third period progressed the Blues were able to shutdown TMU's offence and secure a 6-2 win over their downtown Toronto rivals. Carlee Vance finished the game with 19 saves. 

The Blues are back in action on Friday (Jan. 31) night at Varsity Arena when they host the No. 9 nationally ranked Nipissing Lakers. 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.