The York University Lions men's hockey team was handed a 5-3 defeat at the hands of the rival Toronto Varsity Blues on Sunday afternoon at Varsity Arena.
 
After a scoreless first period, the Blues scored twice early in the second and the Lions could not recover. Goals by Justin Brand and Matt Campagna at 1:17 and 8:20, respectively, gave the home team a 2-0 advantage.
 
That was just the start of a flurry of activity in the frame. The Lions cut into the deficit at 14:49 on Giusten Annetta's first career goal, but three minutes later the Blues extended their lead to two again when Hunter Atchison found the back of the net.
 
Not to be outdone, Trevor Petersen again made it a one-goal game just before the end of the period, and the Blues carried their 3-2 lead into the second intermission.
 
As they had in the second, the Blues came out flying in the third period and again scored early, this time off the stick of Max Lindsay less than four minutes in for a 4-2 score. The Lions countered on a goal by Josh LaFrance in the middle of the frame, but that was as close as they could get.
 
Atchison added his second of the day into an empty net with one second left on the clock to round out the scoring.
 
The Lions fell to 11-7-1 with the loss and now sit fourth in the tight OUA West standings, while the last-place Blues are 5-12-1 and closing in on one of the playoff spots in the division.
 
The Lions will now play three of their next four on home ice at Canlan Ice Sports, beginning with games against the Lakehead Thunderwolves and Western Mustangs next Friday and Saturday nights. Puck drop in both games will be at 7pm.