The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey team fell 4-2 to the Western Mustangs on Saturday (Jan. 24) night in London, Ont.

The Blues came out flying and set the tone of the game early as third-year forward Ashley Delahey fired home a power play marker, notching her fifth goal of the season to finish off crisp puck movement from second-year defender Taylor Thompson. Dictating play throughout the first 20 minutes of play, the Blues kept Western on their heels going into the first intermission.

Western was able to pull even when Maria Shea found the back of the net. Just over two minutes later, the Blues responded when third-year forward Abby Whitworth scored her OUA-leading 17^th goal of the season on a well-worked sequence where linemate Jasmine Comeau won a puck battle and Christina Alexiou set her up in front of the net for the goal. The Mustangs would even the score late in the period with a power play goal by Madeleine Rai.

In the third period third-year goaltender Carlee Vance was sharp between the pipes, making some of the best of her 22 saves as she stood tall during extended offensive zone time from the Mustangs to keep the score even. Midway through the period, Sadie Mulligan gave Western their first lead of the game. As the period progressed, Thompson and fifth-year defender Kalie Chan anchored a steady effort in the defensive zone, breaking up entries and winning board battles while helping U of T transition in the neutral zone. Despite a late push for an equalizer, Haylie Kirkpatrick found the back of the net with an empty net goal to push the result in Western's favour.

Up next, the Blues will head to Waterloo to take on the No. 3 nationally ranked Laurier Golden Hawks on Thursday (Jan. 29) night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on oua.tv.