TORONTO — The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold women's hockey team fell to the Western Mustangs 5-2 on Sunday afternoon. 

TMU drops to 3-8 on the season but is playing .500 hockey in its last six contests. While the Mustangs are 5-6, they entered the game with wins over quality opponents like the Guelph Gryphons and Queen's Gaels. 

With both teams trying to dig themselves out of holes created by slow starts to the year, there was seemingly a mutual understanding between the two that this was an important game on the calendar. 

Both teams began the matinee affair by throwing off each other's rhythm with a stifling defence. TMU and Western clogged the neutral zone and prevented any meaningful opportunities within the first portion of the period. 

When the Bold's Maddy Collins and the Mustangs' Emma Campbell were whistled for penalties within 50 seconds of each other, it finally opened up the ice for both teams. 

Despite the seemingly slow start on the stat sheet, the Bold were far from lethargic on the ice. The aforementioned Mustangs penalty was drawn when TMU's Alizee LeBlanc raced down the ice to chase a clearance and subsequently drew an interference infraction for her efforts. Captain Cailey Davis also recorded her first of three blocked shots in the period. 

It's this type of effort that Bold Head Coach Lisa Haley believes will keep her team afloat in the OUA's East standings. 

"We're ravaged with injuries right now," said Haley. "Every single player that's called upon has stepped up and they give everything they can every shift." 

Western took advantage of the spacing that comes with four-on-four action when Adeline Kristoff sped down the left wing and beat Bold goaltender Sydney Pyburn with a shot into the far side corner.

The Mustangs took advantage of their second power play attempt when forward Haylie Kirkpatrick fired one on net from the left face-off circle. The puck rebounded off Pyburn's left pad and bounced its way onto Lacey Larmand's stick, who then buried it into the open net to extend Western's lead to 2-0. Larmand entered the contest leading the Mustangs in points with seven. 

The Bold emerged from intermission with a renewed sense of urgency. TMU created two early breakaway opportunities, with one of those resulting in a penalty shot. Bold defender Kalysta Song, who scored twice in the shootout against the Queen's Gaels on Oct. 10, had her attempt poked away by Mustangs goalie Presley Dashuck. Moments later, Davis deflected a shot from point that narrowly missed its target. 

Five minutes into the second period, TMU's tenacity was finally rewarded. It began with a nifty move by Collins to shake a defender at the blue line. One stride later, Collins fired a wrist shot on net. After fighting for position and creating traffic in front of the net, LeBlanc slapped the rebound home as she fell to the ice. It was LeBlanc's second goal of the season. 

As she has demonstrated throughout the season, Pyburn was poised between the pipes as she stopped various opportunities from various angles. None seemed more important than when Pyburn made consecutive saves on a two-on-one rush, including stopping Western's leading scorer Janique LaBossiere on the rebound. 

Early in the final period, Collins once again flashed her star potential. After Gaby Gareau maneuvered into the Mustangs' offensive zone, she dropped it off to Collins near the right half-wall. Collins' elite stick handling had a Western defender swiping at air before the first-year player expertly picked out the slim opening in the right corner of the net to tie the game at 2-2. 

Collins' game-tying goal marked the first time TMU has erased a two-goal deficit this season. 

"Maddy is really gifted and we're excited to see what's ahead for her," said Haley.

With each passing game, Collins has shown increased comfort and significant progress. For Haley, it's an encouraging sign for the rookie. 

"I think there's always an adjustment to the speed of the game," said Haley. "But her natural talent is just off the charts."

Unfortunately for the Bold, the Mustangs' Kristoff scored 21 seconds later to retake the lead. Kristoff later added another one, this time off a rebound, to give her the hat trick. 

Western's Kate Suitor scored into an empty net for her fourth goal of the season. 

The Bold's next game is a home matchup against the Waterloo Warriors on Nov. 22. The game is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. Students can attend for free with their OneCards.