UNB Rallies, Beats SMU In OT

(HALIFAX, NS) Ashley Stratton (Mount Pearl, NL) scored 55 seconds into overtime to give the UNB REDS a 4-3 win over the Saint Mary's Huskies on Friday.

Stratton's goal capped a dramatic comeback for UNB. The REDS scored twice in the third period to tie the game 3-3, forcing the extra time.

With the win, the REDS improve to 3-and-0, while the Huskies are now 2-and-1.

UNB got on the board first, following a Huskies' giveaway deep in their own zone.

REDS forward Ava Benedict (Falmouth, NS) demonstrated phenomenal patience as she outwaited Saint Mary's goalie Ashley Imlach (Newtonville, ON), who made a desperate stretch. The goal was the first of Benedict's Atlantic University Sport career.

The Huskies responded quickly, just two minutes later when defender Maddy Corbett (Sydney, NS) fired a rocket to the top corner of the REDS net, beating Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC) on her blocker side.

Then, with just over a minute left in the first period, Shae Demale (Red Deer, AB)

scored a goal from a sharp angle as she skated along the goal line towards the REDS net.

In the second period, the Huskies started with a bang.

Less than a minute in, on the powerplay, Demale scored her second of the night.

Demale almost got a third goal halfway through the period, on a short-handed breakaway, but was stoned by Woodland.

Not to be outdone, a few seconds into a Huskies powerplay, the REDS' Payton Hargreaves (Whitby, ON) got a breakaway of her own, but Imlach stood her ground.

The Huskies got into penalty trouble in the third period, but managed to fight off a five-on-three

REDS' powerplay. After killing that penalty, the Huskies immediately went back on the

penalty kill with just over five minutes to play.

REDS' head coach Sarah Hilworth gambled, pulling Woodland for a six on four powerplay.

It paid off, as Lily George (Garden Village, ON) scored to make it a 3-2 game.

The Huskies got another penalty late in the period, and Jana Headrick (Garden River, ON) scored to tie the game with 3:40 to play and setting the table for Stratton's overtime heroics.

Stratton was named Subway Player of the Game.

Both teams are back in action on Saturday.

The Huskies host St. Thomas, while the REDS visit St FX.

RECAP: Matt Strickland/for SMU Athletics

PHOTO: Richard Lafortune/for SMU Athletics