TMU take on Toronto in OUA quarter-final series

TORONTO - For the fifth consecutive season, the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold women's hockey team is marching their way into the OUA postseason. With a chance at rewriting history already presenting itself in the opening round, the Bold are looking to strike their opposition as they've done for the lion's share of the regular season: with an underdog mentality fully present.

Going up against the Toronto Varsity Blues will present the Bold with their biggest challenge to date, with the second-ranked team in the country looking to keep their dominant season intact by advancing to their fourth consecutive semifinal.

With just four losses on the board for Toronto - and two of them coming within the penultimate weekend of the regular season - head coach of the Bold, Lisa Haley, believes her side can pose a legitimate threat towards one of the nation's best.

"We know that we're definitely the underdogs and we're going to try and make it as tough on them as we possibly can," said the Bold bench boss. "We can't shy away from our identity."

So far this season, the 'underdog' mentality has become increasingly familiar with the Bold, especially when the Varsity Blues pose as the opposition. Despite picking up a win in exhibition play, TMU has dropped all three contests to their crosstown rivals, being outscored 12-2 during that span.

Yet the lopsided record is not one that fazes Haley heading into the first round of the postseason, nor will it deteriorate her approach to the series as a whole. Understanding how the odds sit in favour of the Varsity Blues only fuels the free-minded thinking that Haley wishes to resonate with her squad and allows the team to simplify its game plan even further.

Much of the team's objectives revolve around limiting the damage of forward Nikki McDonald, who has spent the better part of her sophomore season with the Blues filling TMU's net. Eight of her team-leading 24 points have come against the blue and gold, with her offensive production being the difference maker in nearly all of the matches featuring the two Toronto sides.

"She's got an amazing release and a top-end shot," said Haley in respect to the leading play of McDonald. Limiting the amount of open looks will be necessary if the Bold wish to contain one of the Blues most bewildering beasts upfront. The team's "smothering mentality" as Haley puts it, will be judged by the scoreline in each of the team's contests and may very well be what secures the Bold another week of hockey.

Alongside mitigating McDonald, the Bold will look to solve an even bigger problem of beating Toronto's netminders for the better portion of the series. Already being victim of a shutout loss to goaltender Madeline Albert earlier in the season, the Bold will have their hands full in trying to kill two birds with one stone.

"We know we have to play a style that's going to keep it to a low-scoring affair," said Haley, adding that she believes her goaltending unit will have to be just as sharp, if not sharper, to stump the series hosts.

"It's less about who can steal a game versus UofT and more about who can handle what we expect to be a barrage of shots."

Fortunately for the Bold, all three of their goaltenders have handled an equal workload against the Varsity Blues in this season alone. Although the edge in goal may not be in favour of TMU heading in, Haley is a firm believer in the experience being beneficial to her young core of netminders going forward.

Apart from their revolving door of goaltenders, the Bold's lethal weapon will stem from their heavy veteran presence, especially involving those in their last year of eligibility. These "Super Seniors" who have spent six seasons with the squad, will be called upon to lead the Bold to an eventual upset.

Brooklyn Gemmill, Olivia Giardetti, Dani Fox and captain Madison Lalonde will make up this core selection for the Bold, combining for 20 years of experience on the ice.

"I think we're going to see the best hockey of their careers," said Haley, adding that their ability to step up is undoubtedly part of her plan. "We want to do this for our seniors, we want to make sure that our performance on the ice is something they can be proud of and try to carry that on as far as we can."

With so much uncertainty surrounding the Bold's upcoming series with the Varsity Blues, Haley and her side are looking to leave nothing up for chance, and lay it all on the line.

"We're going to put our heart and soul into this and be able to live with whichever way the cookie crumbles… If we can keep that belief in ourselves then who knows."

The Bold will kick off their three-game series with the Varsity Blues on Thursday evening. Game one gets underway at 7 p.m with the Varsity Blues hosting the Bold at Varsity Arena.

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Players Mentioned

#9 Brooklyn Gemmill: F; 5' 4"; 5

#12 Olivia Giardetti: F; 5' 5"; 5

#16 Dani Fox: F; 5' 7"; 5

#26 Madison Lalonde: F; 5' 7"; 5

Players Mentioned

#9 Brooklyn Gemmill
: 5' 4"; 5
: F

#12 Olivia Giardetti
: 5' 5"; 5
: F

#16 Dani Fox
: 5' 7"; 5
: F

#26 Madison Lalonde
: 5' 7"; 5
: F