The Varsity Blues women’s hockey team opened its Ontario University Athletics (OUA) semi-final series against the Laurier Golden Hawks in Waterloo on Wednesday night. The Blues were stymied by the excellent play of Golden Hawks’ rookie goaltender Amanda Smith, losing 4–1 with an empty netter.
The Blues came out flying in the opening frame, outshooting the home team 15–8. The team, however, failed to capitalize on its chances and it was Laurier that finally broke the deadlock thirteen minutes into the second period. Golden Hawks star forward Devon Skeats scored her first of three goals on the evening, with rookie forward Heather Platt assisting on the play.
Three minutes into the third period, Laurier struck again, with sophomore forward Emily Kekewich beating U of T goaltender Nicole Kesteris for her first goal since January 2013. Just under four minutes later, the Golden Hawks took a 3–0 lead with Skeats scoring her second of the match. Smith, who made 30 saves on 31 shots in the contest, assisted on the Skeats marker.
The Blues battled back, with forward Sonja Weidenfelder setting up her linemate Taylor Day to cut Laurier’s lead to two. Unfortunately, that was as close as the Blues would come, with the Golden Hawks defense limiting Toronto to just six shots in the frame and Smith stopping all pucks that came her way in the final 12 minutes. Skeats added an empty net goal in the dying seconds to complete the hat-trick. It was doubtless a very satisfying win for Skeats, given that Kesteris got the better of her in a Blues shootout win when the teams last played on January 18.
With the loss, the Blues must win at home on Friday night at 7:30 to keep their postseason alive.
