By Aswin Priyadharshan

The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold women’s hockey team fell short of a victory in a 5-2 loss to the University of Windsor Lancers on Friday night at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC).

The Bold continue their losing streak, now having lost their third straight game and leaving them with a record of 5-16 on the season. 

Head coach Lisa Haley spoke on her team’s recent shortcoming and where she believes they must improve. “We had penalties down the stretch that hurt us. [Windsor] was able to take advantage of those moments and get those points. We had power plays ourselves but we just couldn’t find anything,” said Haley.

A cold Friday evening certainly calls for an exciting game of hockey. But the excitement may have been one-sided. To start the game, the Lancers set the tone by putting immediate offensive pressure on the Bold. With this strategy, first-year forward Rowan Hu gave the Lancers their first goal of the game from an assist from second-year forward Madison Hollohan.

Not long after gaining the lead, the Lancers threatened to extend it racing down the rink having a numbers advantage, but first-year goalie Katie Frost came up with a save to put a halt to Windsor’s scoring opportunity. 

TMU then had a power play but failed to tie the game before the end of the first period.

The second period started with more success for Windsor. Second-year defender Teagan Pare extended the lead for the Lancers, followed by an assist from first-year defender Dejah Howes who set up first-year forward Lerissa Stevenson for a third goal.

Things weren’t looking good for the Bold, being down 3-0 before the end of the second period, but things began to turn around. Fifth-year forward Cailey Davis gave the Bold their first goal of the game off an assist from first-year defender Maddy Collins. Then, in the span of just 30 seconds, second-year forward Katie Leroux found the net off of a dime from fourth-year forward Britni Yammine to bring the game to a more manageable score of 3-2. 

By the beginning of the third, the Bold had an uphill battle and hoped to tie the game, with the potential to go to overtime. But the Lancers had other plans.

Second-year forward Bridget Cameron took her shot at the net and succeeded, extending Windsor’s lead to 4-2. TMU could not keep up as early penalties from first-year forward Ava Assinewai and third-year forward Neely Van Volsen put the Bold at a disadvantage.

Hu was a player on a mission for the Lancers. Later in the third, she found the net again off of another assist from Hollohan, sealing the win for Windsor. 

Even after another loss for the Bold, Haley is still not giving up her squad. “It’s easy to look at the big picture and be overwhelmed by it, but taking it one game at a time is the mindset so it’s on to the next game.”

UP NEXT: The Bold will play against the Nippising University Lakers on Jan. 31 at the MAC. Puck drop is at 2:15 p.m.