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THE OFFICIAL HOME OF TMU Bold
THE OFFICIAL HOME OF THE TMU Bold HOME OF THE TMU Bold
A TMU and Toronto player each lunge for the puck with their sticks.
Photo by Josh Kim
1
TMU TMU
2
Winner Toronto TOR
TMU TMU
1
Final
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Toronto TOR
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 F
TMU TMU 1 0 0 1
Toronto TOR 0 0 2 2

Game Recap: Hockey (W) | | Ilyas Hussein

Last minute Toronto goal steals game one away from Bold

TORONTO - The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold women's hockey team fell 2-1 to the Toronto Varsity Blues on Thursday night at Varsity Arena in the opening game of their first-round series.  

Despite fifth-year forward Olivia Giardetti opening the scoring early into the night, Sophie Grawbarger scored the game-winning goal for the Blues in the dying seconds to complete the third-period comeback. 

"I couldn't be more proud. I felt like they showed up and we punched above our weight today against a really great team," said Bold head coach Lisa Haley. "Certainly left it all on the table tonight." 

"I think we came out and they underestimated us. They didn't think we have as much heart, honour and humility as we do. So, I'm really proud of the team and the effort we gave," said Giardetti. 

The Bold raced out to the lead less than three minutes into the first period as Giardetti beat Blues netminder Erica Fryer for the opening tally. The Whitby, Ont., native took a dish from fellow fifth-year forward Dani Fox and rifled it short-side.  

 
"Anything I can do to get the energy for the girls means a lot to me. I want them to be as fired up as I am. So, if I can put it into the back of the net and that gets everybody going then I'm happy with it," said Giardetti. 

"I think we caught them off guard a little bit," added Haley. "We had a game plan at the start and I thought our team executed it very well."

Following the goal, the Blues looked to respond, but they quickly found themselves in penalty trouble with a Natasha Athanasakos body-checking penalty nine seconds after the marker. 

The Blues evaded any punishment while shorthanded and had two power plays of their own, but the Bold successfully killed those off as well — maintaining the one-goal lead heading into the second. 

"We had a really solid start — holding [Toronto] to four shots in the first period. We're not focused on how many shots or scoring opportunities we had. We know they don't give up a lot of goals, so in order to beat them you have to make sure you don't give up very many," said Haley.

After an even second period, the Blues went to the power play early in the third off of a Giardetti goaltender interference penalty. On the ensuing advantage, Kaitlyn McKnight found the loose puck in the slot and squeaked it past the sprawling first-year Bold netminder Lauren Griffin to even it up at one-a-piece. 

The two Toronto sides went back and forth for almost the entire frame, but with 15.2 seconds left the Blues capitalized. After an offensive zone face-off win, Grawbarger netted home the winning goal — stealing game one of the series at its last breath. 

"[We] had them on the ropes for pretty much 58 minutes. Too bad it wasn't 60," said Haley.

Despite the loss, the morale of the Bold is not down as they pushed the number two ranked team in the nation to the brink — an improvement from their matchup a week ago.

"I think we gained a lot of confidence coming out of this game. We're definitely an inspired group here," said Haley. "I certainly know that we're going to do everything we can to try to get ahead again and close out a game."

"It was a tough battle. It was physical. But, we kept up with them and outplayed them a lot of the time," said Giardetti. 

On the note of physicality, the Bold lost fifth-year forward Brooklyn Gemmill in the third period as she collided hard into the end-boards and needed help off the ice. She did not return to the game afterward and her status for game two is uncertain. 

Nonetheless, the blue and gold are back in action with their season on the line on Saturday afternoon at the Mattamy Athletic Centre. 

"Immediately after the fact and knowing you were that close hits you pretty hard and I think you saw that wave of emotion from some of our players, but it's behind us now," said Haley. "We'll walk out of the rink tonight and put it behind us and get ready for game two." 

"I think about the seniors and the fact that could be the last time myself and six other girls play on that home rink. So, I think that's going to be a huge drive for the passion and energy that we bring," added Giardetti. 

Puck drop is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
 
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