TORONTO, Ont. – The Ontario Tech Ridgebacks Women's hockey team traveled to Toronto this Thursday night to face off against the Toronto Varsity Blues, where they lost 6-1.

The Toronto Varsity Blues are in second in the east division. The Ridgebacks are still fighting for a playoff spot while sitting in fifth place below the York Lions. York and Ontario Tech both have an 8-16 season record before tonight's games.

Zoe McGee (Kanata, Ont.) started in net for The Ridgebacks, saving 24 shots in her last game against TMU Bold on Saturday. McGee sports a .924 save percentage so far this season.

Midway through the first, the Ridgebacks got a power play goal after the Blues took a body-checking penalty, and they were able to capitalize with a goal from Milana Perri (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.), assisted by Julia Jackson (Uxbridge, Ont.) and Kayla Welk (Barrie, Ont.).

Still, in the first period, the Toronto Blues score two back-to-back goals, putting them up by one. An unlucky pass right to Emma Irwin (Markham, Ont.) on the Blues in front of the Ridgebacks net allowed her to secure another goal for the Blues.

The Blues remained in the lead with goals and shots on net going into the second period.

The Ridgebacks won the face-off to start the second period, dumping it into the Blues' zone. The puck did not stay in the zone long; after a major scrum in front of the net, Zoe McGee (Kanata, Ont.)  was able to track the puck, keeping it out of her net.

Taylor Delahey (Markham, Ont.) gets the fourth goal for the Varsity Blues after an amazing play for Toronto, and Toronto got their fifth goal right off of the next face-off.

Jalyn St. Louis (Holland Landing, Ont.) stepped into net for the Ridgebacks in the second period. St. Louis currently has a .918 save percentage in four games. She went on to make some amazing saves.

The Ridgebacks had a very close opportunity after a two-on-one breakout and a scrum in front of the net, but Erica Fryer (Amherstburg, Ont.) was able to get her glove on it.

With only 11 seconds remaining in the second period, the Varsity Blues take a tripping penalty, allowing the Ridgebacks to start the third period in a power play. The Blues get another penalty, making this a five-on-three advantage for the Ridgebacks. While they did a solid job cycling the puck around and keeping possession, the Ridgebacks did not manage to put another on the scoreboard. Toronto got their sixth goal early in the third period.

The TMU Bold beat the York Lions, leaving York and Ontario Tecb tied with an 8-17 record, and both continue to fight for the last playoff spot.

The Ridgebacks will return home to the Campus Ice Centre tomorrow at 7 p.m. to play Nipissing Lakers. The Lakers are in first place in the east with a 20-5 season record.