Stratton Leads Reds Past Mounties

(FREDERICTON, NB) Ashley Stratton (Mount Pearl, NL) scored the game-winning goal with 6:28 to play as the UNB Reds beat the Mount Allison Mounties 2-1.

Stratton, who also had an assist, was named the Subway Player of the Game.

"It wasn't pretty, but we'll take the two points," she said.

Despite some early pressure by the Reds, it was the Mounties who struck first.

Captain Heather Richards (St. Anthony, NL) batted a rebound past UNB netminder Hailey Martens (Ladysmith, BC) at the 5:32 mark.

"I did play a bit of softball in my day, but it was more just luck and hard, blue collar hockey, going to the front of the net and I happened to get my stick on it," said Richards.

"She did bat it out of mid-air," said Martens. "I'll give that to her, that was good hand-eye. I wasn't mad about that one."

The Reds drew even on the power-play, at 17:59 of the first.

Lily George (Garden Village, ON) re-directed Stratton's centering pass by Mounties goalie Kaitlin Mowbray (Whitby, ON).

The teams played through a slow and scoreless second period, despite power-plays that provided both sides with scoring opportunities.

In the third period, the Reds found new life and spent much of the period buzzing around the Mounties net.

Stratton's goal came after a rush by linemate Tamina Kehler (Chilliwack, BC). As she broke down the left wing, Kehler fed the puck to Stratton. Mowbray stopped Stratton's initial shot, but couldn't handle the rebound, which Stratton fired into the Mounties net.

"I was coming in behind her (Kehler), I was going to the net and got my own rebound and it went in, so that was pretty good," said Stratton.

Down 2-1, Mount Allison pulled Mowbray in favour of an extra attack with 1:06 to play, but the Mounties couldn't take advantage.

"The one goal games, we've been having a lot of those this season, they're hard to swallow, but I'm no doubt proud of the effort the 20 of us put on the ice," said Richards.

Despite the win, Reds head coach Sarah Hilworth was not happy.

"It was an ugly one," she said. "We can't have any excuses with this group right now. We can't take the other group for granted either. I think we under-estimated them and over-estimated our own abilities, which isn't fair because they're a very good team."

The Mounties are back in action on Sunday, when they visit St. Thomas. That game goes at 2:00pm.

The Reds return to the ice on Wednesday, when they visit Moncton for a 7:00pm face-off.

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics