As the York University women's hockey team faces a bout of adversity this week – three games in three days, with all three of those games coming against the two nationally ranked teams in their division — the No. 10 Nipissing Lakers and the No. 1 Toronto Varsity Blues.
 
The Match-up: York (2-8-1) vs. No. 10 Nipissing (7-3-0) & No. 1 Toronto (11-0-1)
 
Game Details
Thursday, Feb. 24 @ 5pm at Nipissing, OUA.tv
Friday, Feb. 25 @ 7:15pm vs. Toronto, OUA.tv
Saturday, Feb. 26 @ 7pm at Toronto, OUA.tv
 
Home/Road Splits
York — 1-3-1 at home, 1-4 on the road
Nipissing — 3-1 at home, 4-2 on the road
Toronto — 7-0 at home, 4-0-1 on the road
 
Last Meetings
Nipissing has outscored York 10-0 over two meetings so far this year. The Lions have given Toronto, the top ranked team in Canada, all sorts of problems this year, including taking them to overtime in a spirited game at Canlan Ice Sports on Nov. 27 before losing 2-1 in extra time.
 
QUICK FACTS
 
York

• York allowed three goals in the first three minutes of the game against the Rams last week, which ultimately led to a 6-2 loss.
• Courtney Gardiner and Ellen Donaldson got the scoring for York – it was Donaldson's first of the season. Gardiner, a co-captain of the team, scored after making appearances with the PHF's Toronto Six over the OUA season pause.

Nipissing

• The Lakers were ranked as high as fifth in the nation up to last week. But a recent loss to Ontario Tech on Feb. 17 has nearly dropped them out of the rankings. The Ridgebacks are both of York's wins this year.

Toronto

• Undefeated in 12 games, the Toronto Varsity Blues are among the OUA's best. Feb. 16 game against Nipissing, then ranked fifth in Canada, resulted in a 4-1 win.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
 
York
 
Kelsey McHolm: Had three points against Ontario Tech on Feb. 11 … played her 100^th game as a Lion earlier this year on the road at Ontario Tech.
 
Nipissing
 
Maggie McKee: Sophomore forward had a four-game point streak until Nipissing's loss at Ontario Tech, including two assists at Queen's on Feb. 12.
 
Toronto
 
Erica Fryer: Goaltender named U SPORTS athlete of the week for the period of Feb. 6-12 for two shutouts of the Rams on Feb. 10 and 12.