By Kyedin Murray

The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold women’s hockey team fell to the Windsor Lancers 5-0 on Thursday night at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC), extending their losing streak to two games and dropping to a 2-3 season record.

“We gave up a lot of high-danger chances,” said TMU head coach Lisa Haley. “We didn’t capitalize on our power play, and our penalty kill wasn’t what it normally is. So that adds up to a lot.”

The result gives Windsor the upper-hand in the rivalry, with the Lancers now winning eight of the teams’ last 14 meetings. The defeat follows the Bold’s 8-1 loss to the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees on Oct. 31.

After a slow start in the first period with TMU landing only two shots on goal in the opening five minutes, the pace picked up as penalties became a factor for both teams.

A costly Windsor turnover gave the Bold a breakaway opportunity, but a holding penalty called on fifth-year Windsor defense Maggie Mitani in the twelfth minute prevented the chance from unfolding.

With less than five minutes to play in the first frame, the Bold went on their second power play after a cross-checking penalty was called on third-year Windsor forward Bridget Cameron.

Just eight seconds in to the second period, the puck fell to Windsor first-year forward, Freya Flook. Notching it in the back of the net on a shorthanded breakaway, she scored her first career Ontario University Athletics (OUA) goal.

“We had our looks early on the power play. It came down to some execution, just some passes blowing up on sticks, some wide-open looks and not being able to bury it early, and you just start squeezing it a little bit, and it’s hard to find it again […] We got back on our heels and lost all the chemistry that we had in the first period,” said Haley.

Less than a minute into the second period, second-year Windsor forward Lerissa Stevenson found the back of the net again, after an assist by fifth-year forward Emily Eikelboom, who ranks second overall in the OUA in goal scoring.

In the 16th minute, Flook struck again, netting her second goal of the game to give the Lancers a 3-0 lead. 

Quickly after, Haley pulled second-year goaltender Sydney Pyburn and replaced her with first-year goaltender Izzy Lane. Lane, who had debuted in the 8-1 loss to Ottawa, stood tall on home ice and made 15 impressive saves throughout the game. 

Heading back to the change rooms, the Lancers overpowered TMU throughout the second frame, posting 14 shots to the Bold’s six, and they’d soon continue the trend in the final period.

Bold fourth-year forward Megan Bergmanis had a look at a promising breakaway opportunity early in the third frame, but the wayward shot found its way to the left and past the post.

Moments later, TMU fourth-year forward Kerrin Kerr was called for a slashing penalty, which the Lancers converted and Stevenson scored her second goal of the night.

The Lancers hammered home the victory, adding one final goal from Eikelboom with less than a minute left to play, sealing a statement 5-0 victory over the Bold.

The special teams battle remains a vulnerability for TMU, something Haley emphasized the team is working to improve ahead of their upcoming fixtures. 

“We didn’t get any on our six chances that we had, and our PK gave up two goals,” Haley said. “So right away when you’re losing the special teams game 3-0, it’s pretty tough.”

UP NEXT: TMU will return to the MAC on Sunday to take on the Western University Mustangs. Puck-drop is set for 6:15 p.m.