Reds Fall In Close Game With Moncton

(FREDERICTON, NB) Audrey Berthiaume (St-Bruno, QC) made 31 saves as l'Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues beat the UNB Reds 1-0, in UNB's Bell Let's Talk Day Game.

Berthiaume's effort included stops on a number of last minute shots, as the Reds skated with six attackers and an empty net.

"I think the last minute was kind of scary for some people, but I wasn't scared," said Berthiaume. "We worked strong on defence to make sure we kept the score that way (1-0) and we made sure we could get the two points."

The first-year netminder was named Subway Player of the Game.

Moncton put pressure on the Reds from the opening face-off, and that pressure produced some early scoring chances.

Just past the 9:00 mark, Gabrielle Saulnier (Memramcook, NB) picked up the puck in the neutral zone, moved around a Reds defender and skated in alone on Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC) in the UNB net. Woodland followed Saulnier's deke attempt and held the puck out.

About four minutes later, Isadora Quirion (Saint-Gédéon de Beauce, QC) took a feed from the corner and fired a quick one-timer past Woodland, staking the visitors to an early 1-0 lead.

The second period saw end-to-end action, but few measurable scoring chances.

Late in the frame, the Reds did find themselves with a 3-on-1 break, but Paige Grenier's (Olds, AB) shot went wide.

Trailing by just a goal, the Reds looked to tie the score in the third period.

On the power-play, mid-way through the third, Tamina Kehler (Chilliwack, BC) made a fast end-to-end rush, pushing the puck just wide on a hilite reel scoring chance.

"I know the power-play before we'd had a lot of trouble getting it in deep and Sarah was just constantly on us, you've got to move your feet, so that's what was going through my mind as I picked up the puck and then they were pretty far back. I just kept my feet going and got to the net," said Kehler.

Then, with under 2:00 to play, Lily George (Garden Village, ON) fired a shot from in close that seemed to handcuff Berthiaume. The rebound trickled off to the goalie's right, but Ashley Stratton (Mount Pearl, NL) fired the puck over the open net.

Despite making 27 saves on 28 shots, and being named the game's second star, Woodland took the loss.

UNB's record falls to 12-9-4, while Moncton improves to 11-13-1.

Les Aigles Bleues return home to host the Saint Mary's Huskies on Saturday. Game time is 7:00pm.

The Reds are also in action Saturday. They host the Mount Allison Mounties, in a 2:00pm start.

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics