LONDON, Ont. – Jessica Ulrich’s (Keswick, Ont.) 35 saves were not enough to overtake the Toronto Varsity Blues as Western fell 4-1 on Oct. 24 at Thompson Arena.
Blues goals were claimed by Ragan Danford (Madoc, Ont.), Alexandra Brind’Amour-McClure (Waterdown, Ont.), Lindsay Hill (Ajax, Ont.) and Darby Smith (Madoc, Ont.) scored the empty net goal. Western’s only goal was scored by Ellie Seedhouse (Whitby, Ont.)
Western began to falter under Toronto’s offensive pressure midway through the first frame. Ulrich turned aside two of Danford’s shots, however she buried her third shot and the Blues took a 1-0 lead.
Toronto’s pressure increased as the first period went on and Blues forward Brind’Amour-McClure capitalized on an open opportunity wiring a shot over Ulrich’s shoulder.
The Blues were 1/9 for powerplay opportunities where as Western was 1/6.
Only two minutes into the second frame Ulrich fumbled a shot that couldn’t be cleared by the Mustang defender and Hill buried the rebound to increase Toronto’s lead by three goals.
Western’s Seedhouse burst into a breakaway where she deked the Blues goaltender and slid one over the goal line to make the game 3-1.
In a desperate attempt to claim another goal, Ulrich was pulled with less than three minutes remaining. Unfortunately, Toronto capitalized on the empty net opportunity and capped the game off at 4-1.
Western plays host to the York Lions on Oct. 25 at Thompson Arena. The puck drops at 2 p.m.
BOX SCORE
Toronto 4, Western 1
(Oct 24, 2009 at Thompson Arena, London, Ont.)
1st Period
1. Toronto, Danford 3 (O'Hanlon, Smith), 5:43.
2. Toronto, Brind'Amour McClure 3 (White, Brind'Amour-McClure), 13:47 (pp). Penalties-Welten Uwo (boarding), 3:11; Bannon Tor (interference), 7:57; Morais Uwo (roughing), 10:09; Brind'Amour McClure Tor (tripping), 10:51; Hooker Uwo (hooking), 11:51.
2nd Period
3. Toronto, Hill 1 1:37.
Penalties-Karapalidis Uwo (body checking), 2:45; Karapalidis Uwo (tripping), 6:44; Johnston Uwo (hooking), 8:39; Hill Tor (body checking), 16:43.
3rd Period
4. Western, Seedhouse 2 (Cox, Johnston), 5:13 (pp).
5. Toronto, Smith 1 (Fawns, Hill), 17:45 (en).
Penalties-Welten Uwo (interference), 1:39; Milito Tor (body checking), 3:55; Fawns Tor (tripping), 6:13; Rellinger Uwo (high sticking), 6:54; Cornell Tor (interference), 7:53; Jorgensen Tor (roughing), 19:05; Flanagan Uwo (holding), 19:05; Dillon Uwo (head butt), 19:43.
Scoring by 1 2 3 T
Western 0 0 1 1
Toronto 2 1 1 4
Shots on Goal
Western 7 5 6 18
Toronto 15 14 10 39
Powerplays: Western 1/6, Toronto 1/9
Goalies- Western, Ulrich (L, 0-4-0-0, 35 saves on 38 shots) Toronto, Muir (L, 1-0-0-0, 17 saves on 18 shots)
Referees- Steve Young
Linesmen- Mike Cavanaugh
