By Ariyana Richardson

The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold women’s hockey team defeated the Western Mustangs with a 1-0 victory on Sunday at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC). Heading into the game, the Bold found themselves on a two-game losing skid, looking to bounce back from a 5-0 shutout loss against Windsor. 

In search of a win, TMU found themselves against a familiar and tricky opponent in Western, who defeated the Bold in both of their 2025-26 season matchups.

To complete the winning task, TMU head coach Lisa Haley alluded to finding opportunities to take the lead and find their footing.

“I think if we get out in front, we play with a lot of confidence and I think we know how to win in that situation,” said Haley.

The game started with Western taking control offensively, playing physically and putting up multiple shots on goal. However, this quick pressure came back to haunt the Mustangs after Western second-year forward Lacey Larmand received a penalty for slashing.

Just as coach Haley manifested, the Bold were able to use this chance to open the scoring. TMU first-year forward Anna McKee opened the scoring 14 minutes into the first period.

“I was hoping to score a little earlier in the season, but it’s come on now, and it’s such a relief…The season is much more serious than the preseason, of course. I think everybody’s more dialed into the game than we were in the preseason where we’re loose and having more fun,” said McKee.

McKee, second-year defence Maddy Collins and third-year defence Nahvin Bal connected through intuitive passing to create an opportunity for a quick shot on net. The score gave TMU an early lead and earned McKee her first official point of the OUA regular season.

McKee, Bal and Collins all hail from Valley Rush in British Columbia–a factor of familiarity that aided their chemistry on the ice, said Haley.

The Mustangs had their opportunity to equalize after a TMU hooking penalty, but struggled to capitalize on the advantage and kept the score in favour of the Bold heading into the second period.

TMU flooded the second period with chances, but were stopped by third-year Western goaltender Presley Daschuk, who had recorded 24 saves through the first two periods against the Bold’s offensive efforts.

With less than a minute remaining in the second period, TMU first-year forward Reese Logan received a penalty for tripping, giving Western a power play to start the third period.

By the end of the second period, the Bold began to overtake the Mustangs on offence. TMU recorded 25 shots on goal compared to 14 from the Mustangs. The home side also maintained a consistent attack, but Daschuk continued to deny their attempts.

Knowing their chances were limited, Western started the third period aggressively and picked up their offensive pressure, sending two shots on goal within the first minute which were both blocked by TMU second-year goaltender Sydney Pyburn.

“The flurry of shots at the end there was obviously very scary but the team was playing well in front of me and I just knew I had to cover it on the back end,” said Pyburn.

Western pulled its goaltender with less than two minutes remaining in an attempt to tie the game, but the Bold persevered and maintained their defensive consistency.

TMU clung tightly to its lead, with a final clutch save from Pyburn, sealing the 1-0 win for the Bold.

The victory marked the end of TMU’s losing streak and served as its first win against the Western Mustangs since November 2024.

“I think the consistency of how we play defensively is something that really came together today,” said Haley, proudly acknowledging her team for “finding ways to capitalize on the second opportunities that we got.”

UP NEXT: The Bold will return to the MAC to face the Ottawa Gee-Gees on Nov. 13. Puck drop is set for 6:15 p.m.