In a battle of two of the top teams in the OUA, the Friday night contest between the Nipissing Lakers women's hockey team and the Toronto Varsity Blues didn't disappoint.

When it was all said and done, the Lakers handed Toronto their first loss of the season thanks to a dominant third period and a 2-1 win.

In a fast, but low-scoring first period, it was the Blues who managed to get on the board first.

The teams played 16 minutes of 0-0 hockey before Toronto made it 1-0 late in the period, chipping a goal to the back of the net.

They held a 9-7 advantage in shots and took a one goal lead into the first intermission.

In the middle frame, the teams traded scoring chances, with the Lakers getting the advantage in terms of quantity, but no one could find the back of the net.

Through 40 minutes, the score remained 1-0 in favour of the Blues.

Shots went the Blues way as well, leading 15-14 in that department.

Power plays by both teams in the third period didn't result in anything, as the score remained 1-0 Toronto until 9:32 left in the period when Nipissing tied things up.

Britney Zack found the back of the net, with Maria Dominico earning the assist.

Less than a minute late, captain Jetta Derenoski buried a shot off the rush to give the Lakers the lead.

Nipissing locked things down for the rest of the period and held on for the 2-1 victory.

Danika Ranger finished with 22 saves, while the final shots read 25-23 in favour of Nipissing.

Nipissing is back at home Saturday night, when they host the Ryerson Rams, in the second game of their four game homestand.

Game time is 7:30pm at Memorial Gardens.