The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey team fell 3-0 to the St. Francis Xavier University X-Women on Sunday (Sept. 28) afternoon at Varsity Arena.
 
The opening frame stayed tight as both sides traded chances in search of the first goal. Toronto tallied nine shots, while StFX pushed back with 15 of their own. The X-Women had an opportunity to break the deadlock on a late power play but second-year goaltender Lyla McKinnon held strong to keep it scoreless heading into the second period.
 
The next 20 minutes brought more end-to-end action as both sides doubled their shot totals, but McKinnon and StFX goaltender Bianca Zak stood tall as the score hadn't changed. Midway through the frame, Toronto looked poised to strike first with a power play of their own, generating pressure in the StFX zone. But against the run of play, StFX's Vivian Hinch broke free on a shorthanded rush and converted, putting the Blues down 1–0. 
 
The Blues kept pressing in the third, but StFX managed to break through early as Alexis Perry struck less than two minutes in. The X-Women added another midway through the frame to extend their lead to three.
 
Toronto refused to back down. In the final three minutes, StFX drew back-to-back penalties, and Toronto pulled McKinnon for a 6-on-4 advantage, pouring on the pressure but were unable to get the puck behind Zak. On the other end, McKinnon was a force in net for Toronto, standing tall with 42 saves on 45 shots to keep her team in the fight until the end.
 
The Blues will cap off their exhibition play on Friday (Oct. 3) against the Guelph Gryphons. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. and tickets are available at varsityblues.ca/tickets.