Tommies Rally Past Reds
Score two late goals in 2-1 win
(FREDERICTON, NB) There's something about the UNB Reds, the St. Thomas Tommies, and 2-1 hockey games.
For the third time in three meetings, the U SPORTS No. 6 ranked Tommies beat the Reds 2-1, Wednesday night, at UNB's Aitken Centre.
Olivia Reid (Aurora, ON) and Emily Oleksuk (Thunder Bay, ON) scored just over two minutes apart in the third period to give the Tommies the win.
Lauren Henman (Cow Bay, NS) set up both goals and was named the Subway Player of the Game.
"It's, obviously, a really motivating game to play," said Henman. "It's the Battle of the Hill. We've got to show them we're the better team. It was not an easy game for them, not an easy game for us. I'm glad we got out on top today."
Sage-McElroy Scott (Morden, MB) scored UNB's goal.
It came off some early pressure in the Tommies' zone.
Hayley Hallihan (Miramichi, NB) put the puck on net and Tommies netminder Abby Clarke (Springdale, NL) kicked out the rebound right to McElroy-Scott who had a wide-open net to fire into.
That 1-0 score held up through the remainder of the first period and all of the second.
Despite being outshot 14-2 in the second period, the Reds carried their 1-0 lead into the third.
That's when the Tommies experience took over.
Just 50 seconds in, Henman's shot was tipped in front by Reid to beat Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC) on the Tommies 24th shot on goal.
The 25th shot on goal would beat Woodland too. Emily Oleksuk (Thunder Bay, ON) fired a quick shot off a Henman pass.
"In the second intermission we said we had 14 shots on net, we're bound to get one, we just have to keep pressuring them, keep getting pucks to the net, and obviously it worked out for us," said Henman.
"It didn't really bounce our way today," said Woodland, who stopped 27 shots in the loss. "Things happen in hockey. Bounces happen, it's the way the game goes and you have to deal with it."
Clarke stopped 17 shots in the Tommies net, including a couple from close range as the Reds worked a 6-on-4 advantage as time ran down.
The Reds played the game without head coach Sarah Hilworth behind the bench.
She underwent knee surgery earlier in the day, and watch the game from her office.
Assistant coach Brittany Esposito ran the bench.
"I was a little nervous at first, being the one in charge. But Pamela (Pachal) was great, really helpful," said Esposito. "It's a different beast, going from coaching just the forwards to the whole team. It was fun. I did miss Sarah though."
St. Thomas closes out the first half of their season on Friday, when they host St FX for a 7:00pm start.
The Reds are on the road, on Saturday. They visit UPEI in their final game of the first half. That game is scheduled to start at 7:00pm.
RECAP AND PHOTOS: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics