TORONTO – Competitors keep playing until they get it right. 

The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold women's hockey team may have gotten off to a slow start this season, but no one can deny their tenacity and competitiveness. Five of TMU's seven games had been decided by one goal, with four of the contests resulting in heartbreaking losses. 

TMU continued to persevere and was rewarded for its efforts by defeating the Brock Badgers 1-0 on Thursday night. 

The victory improved the Bold's record to 2-6. It was the team's second consecutive win at home. TMU also snapped Brock's three-game win streak. With 18 games remaining in the season, this could be the result that turns the Bold's season around. 

"We wanted to get on the right side of those one-goal games," said Bold Head Coach Lisa Haley. "We talked a lot this week about when we take a lead, needing to know the moment we're in and adjusting accordingly."  

For the third straight game, it was the Bold who hit the ice as the aggressors. Backed by strong play from its blue line, TMU dominated possession for most of the early portions of the opening period. The first scoring opportunity came just five minutes into the frame, when Bold defender Maddy Collins swiftly maneuvered past the Badgers' defence for a breakaway. While Collins couldn't finish with her backhand, it signalled to the Badgers that it wouldn't be a straightforward night at the Mattamy Athletic Centre. 

TMU's coaching staff has made it a point this season to build an identity around their defensive strengths and forward Britni Yammine echoed that sentiment when she blocked a shot that led to a two-on-one rush with teammate Kayla Kondo. The Badgers dispatched of the threat but it was only a matter of time before the Bold finally broke through. 

With under four minutes left before the first intermission, Bold forward Eden Dusome expertly steered into the Badgers' zone and put a shot on net. The rebound bounced its way to Yammine's stick, who subsequently scored to give TMU the 1-0 lead. Seconds before scoring, Yammine was nearly ready to end her shift for a breather. Fortunately for TMU, she fought through the fatigue. 

"I knew I couldn't give up on that puck," said Yammine. 

"I was really excited, but it was really good hustle from everybody on the line," added Yammine. "Dusome worked really hard to get me there to be able to score." 

TMU's success was a complete team effort, especially on the defensive end. For the first time since the season opener against the Queen's Gaels on Oct. 10, the Bold didn't commit a penalty in the opening period. 

"Heading into every game, we have some intentions as a team that we want to be dialled in on," said Haley. "Being disciplined was at the top of our list." 

Brock manufactured more of the meaningful scoring opportunities in the second period, mainly due to the Bold's forceful play catching up to them and serving as a double-edged sword. TMU was called for a tripping penalty when Ava Caputo made a goal-saving play in front of her net. Yammine was later whistled for roughing while in the midst of a goalie-defending scrum in front of her net. 

The Bold have excelled on the penalty kill this season (88.9 per cent) and professionally withstood both disadvantages in the period. 

The rest of the contest also showcased one of the best goaltending duels that the OUA has to offer. TMU's Sydney Pyburn and Brock's Megan Thiessen are two of the best goalies in the league. Before the contest, Pyburn's 172 saves in six games were the fourth most in the OUA, while Thiessen's 191 saves in seven games ranked third. 

While both goaltenders played exceptionally well between the pipes, it was Pyburn who stopped all 24 shots she faced to earn her first shutout of the season. 

The Badgers were averaging nearly four goals a game during their winning streak. On this night, Pyburn and the rest of the team were ready to stifle the Badgers' offence.

"My dad always tells me being a goalie is ninety percent mental and ten percent physical," said Pyburn. "(I'm) just making sure I'm in the right mindset and being mentally prepared for the next shot." 

The Bold will next face a challenging test in the No. 4-ranked Guelph Gryphons on Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. live on OUA.tv.