REDS Edge Mounties

(SACKVILLE, NB) The UNB REDS won their sixth straight, a 2-1 win over the Mount Allison Mounties in Atlantic University Sport women's hockey action, Saturday night, in Sackville.

Gabrielle Befekadu (Quispamsis, NB) made 15 saves on 16 shots to win in her AUS debut while Rylee Strohm (Kingsville, ON) and Lauren O'Neil (Osgoode, ON) provided the REDS offence.

After relatively even play over most of the opening period, Strohm opened the scoring with less than a minute on the clock and the REDS took a 1-0 lead to the first intermission.

"Rylee set the tone for us," said REDS' head coach Sarah Hilworth. "Her energy and drive inspired the entire team this week and pushed us to perform at a higher level."

The even play continued in the second period with neither side able to generate much more than chances.

In the third, with Mount A's Clare Munro (Fall River, NS) still serving a penalty assessed in the second, O'Neil scored an unassisted power-play goal just 22 seconds in.

The Mounties would counter with a goal by Dallis Mackenzie (Darlings Island, NB), but that was as close as they'd get.

Olivia Eustace (Riverview, NB) did the lion's share of the work in the faceoff circle for the REDS, going 15-for-28.

With the win, the REDS are now 7-1-0-0 (W-L-OTL-SOL) and sit atop the AUS standings.

The Mounties are still looking for their first win of the season.

Both teams skate back into action on Friday, both on home ice.

The Mounties host the Saint Mary's Huskies while the REDS will welcome the UPEI Panthers to the Aitken Centre. Both games are scheduled for 7:00pm starts.

STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: Galen Juliusson/for MTA Athletics