The University of Toronto Varsity Blues field hockey team finished with national silver after falling 2-1 in the championship final of the 2026 National Bank Field Hockey Canada U SPORTS Championship, presented by Farm Mutual Re, on Sunday (Nov. 8) afternoon in Waterloo.

At the beginning of the contest UBC controlled possession keeping the ball in the Blues end for a majority of the first quarter. The possession advantage allowed the Thunderbirds to score the opening goal of the game in the 10th minute of play as captain Kenzie Girgis delivered a well-placed shot from a penalty corner to take the lead.

In the second, the field opened up as both teams exchanged opportunities. As the match continued, the Blues found their transition offence including a quick pressure attack between second-year forwards Catalina Meilleur and Allie Lavis that garnered a timely penalty corner late in the frame. However, UBC were able to withstand the push from Toronto to maintain the 1-0 lead heading into halftime.

Following the break, U of T continued to ramp up the pressure looking for an equalizer. Drawing back-to-back penalty corners, fourth-year midfielder Alicia Lung would send two sharp strikes on goal with Lavis nearly tipping in the first and Lung sending the second just wide of the near post. At the other end, it was the Thunderbirds utilizing a quick transition as they sped toward the U of T goal before sending a tough bouncing shot on net which second-year goalkeeper Mary Yang was able to corral.

The tightly contested championship final eventually saw another breakthrough for UBC with under 10 minutes remaining. Continuing to build a defensive shell and push for transition opportunities, it was a string of perfectly placed long passes that saw the ball end on the stick of Amy Stelling right in front of a wide-open U of T net where she deposited what would become the eventual game-winner. The late second goal for the Thunderbirds would prove critical when U of T once again drew a pair of back-to-back penalty corners in the closing minutes. On both occasions it was 2026 National Player of the Year Maggie Mullins who received and delivered, driving a hard shot on the second attempt into the back of the UBC net to draw within one. However, the Blues would run out of time in the comeback attempt.

Following the championship final, Mullins was named player of the match for a second time across the weekend. Mullins would also be named tournament MVP, recognizing the outstanding play at both ends of the field throughout the entirety of the weekend.

The national silver marks the first national medal for the Blues since silver in 2023, and the 27th overall national medal for the U of T field hockey program since 1975. This includes eight bronze, eight silver, and 11 national championship titles.

2026 National Bank Field Hockey Canada U SPORTS Championship, presented by Farm Mutual Re
Thursday, Nov. 5 (4 p.m. EST) - Game #1: Toronto 1, UBC 1
Thursday, Nov. 5 (6:30 p.m. EST) - Game #2: Waterloo 4, UPEI 0
Friday, Nov. 6 (4 p.m. EST) - Game #3: Toronto 5, UPEI 1
Friday, Nov. 6 (6:30 p.m. EST) - Game #4: Waterloo 1, UBC 2
Saturday, Nov. 7 (2 p.m. EST) - Game #5: Waterloo 0, Toronto 0
Saturday, Nov. 7 (4:30 p.m. EST) - Game #6 UPEI 0, UBC 4
Sunday, Nov. 8 (12 p.m. EST) - Game #7: Waterloo 3, UPEI 0
Sunday, Nov. 8 (2:30 p.m. EST) - Game #8: UBC 2, Toronto 1