You couldn't have asked for a more even series, but in the end, someone has to win and someone has to lose.

Unfortunately, the Nipissing Lakers women's hockey team came up a goal short Sunday in Game 3 of their OUA quarter-final matchup with the Toronto Varsity Blues.

After splitting the first two games – Toronto winning Game 1 3-1 and Nipissing winning Game 2 4-1, the winner-take-all game went in Toronto Sunday afternoon.

Three goals by Toronto forward Kassie Roach was just a bit too much for the Lakers, as the Blues escaped with a 3-2 victory, as they advance to Round 2.

Roach opened up the scoring in the first period, scoring just past the midway point.

Trailing 1-0 after one, Jade Gauthier scored a shorthanded marker just 22 seconds into the second period to tie things up.

Roache would score again, almost at the exact time she did in the first period, giving Toronto the lead back.

Nipissing would reply again, as Maria Dominico buried a goal late in the period to square the game 2-2.

Gauthier and Sam Strassburger picked up helpers on the goal.

In the third, the lone goal and game-winner, came off the stick of Roache again as Toronto came away with the win.

Danika Ranger finished with 19 saves, while Nipissing fired 18 shots are the Blues net.

Nipissing qualified for the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, missing just the inaugural season.