The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey team fell 4-1 to the Windsor Lancers on Friday (Sept. 26) night at Varsity Arena. 

The Blues came out flying in the first period but the Lancers ended up with the games opening goal when Phoebe Gao found the back of the net. Despite quality scoring chances from Windsor, second-year Blues goaltender Sarah-Lynn Gauthier was strong between the pipes to keep the deficit at 1-0 going into the intermission.

The second period saw U of T raise their shot count in the game to 22 on net but a Lancers breakaway less than four minutes into the period and Keana McKibbin capitalized to extend the lead to 2-0. Despite the Blues applying relentless pressure in front of the Lancers net, goaltender Rebecca Noble was strong, keeping U of T off the scoreboard going into the third period. 

The Blues pressed hard in the final 20 minutes of play and their persistence paid off when fourth-year captain Kaitlyn McKnight won a puck battle in the corner and drove to the net. The rebound off McKnight's shot landed on the stick of fellow fourth-year forward Emma Elders, who buried it past Noble to cut the lead in half. In the closing minutes the Blues fought for an equalizer with Gauthier to the bench for the extra attacker but the Lancers took advantage of the empty cage twice with Rowan Hu regaining the two goal Windsor lead and McKibbin scoring her second goal of the game. 

Gauthier was strong in net for the Blues making 37 saves.

The Blues are back in action on Sunday (Sept. 28) afternoon when they host StFX X-Women at Varsity Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 3 p.m. with tickets available at varsityblues.ca/tickets.