(FREDERICTON, NB) The St. Thomas Tommies scored twice in 1:14 in a 2-1 victory over the UNB Reds, in Game One of the all-Fredericton Subway Atlantic University Sport semi-final series.
Stephanie Ford (Cobourg, ON) scored the Tommies first goal at 5:18 of the second period. She put a high wrist shot past Reds goalie Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC).
Moments later, Alisha Gilbert (Chipman, NB) stuffed a loose puck past Woodland to give the Tommies a 2-1 lead.
"They had a week to prepare and get ready, so they were a little bit more fresh than us, but at the same time, I think that's not an excuse. We just have to be better," said Reds head coach Sarah Hilworth.
Despite being outshot in the first period, it was the Reds who got on the scoreboard first.
With time winding down in the opening period, and the Reds working on the power-play, Hayley Hallihan (Miramichi, NB) took a shot from the top of the right face-off circle that skipped between the legs of Tommies netminder Abby Clarke (Springdale, NL) and gave the underdogs a 1-0 lead.
In the second minute of the second, Becky Connor (East St. Paul, MB) took advantage of a turnover and broke in alone on Woodland. The puck rolled off Connor's stick and just wide of the UNB net.
A few minutes later, the home team scored their goals.
"Losing hurts, it's always going to hurt," said Woodland. "They're a good team and even though we lost, I thought we put out a really good effort against a good team."
"At the end of the day, 2-1 games are scary on their side and on our side, we just have to push through and find some magic again," said Hilworth.
Mid-way through the third, the Tommies thought they'd gone up 3-1, but Woodland stretched out, denying a chance from in close. The crowd thought the home team had scored, as did the Tommies bench, but officials waved it off right away and the red light never went on.
The Reds pulled Woodland with less than a minute to play and created an opportunity in the Tommies' zone, but couldn't score a tying goal.
"Woodland played well tonight," said Tommies head coach Peter Murphy. "Just like Abby, I'm sure they both want a second look at the first goals they let in."
UNB will host game two of the series, Monday night at the Aitken Centre. Face-off is scheduled for 7:00pm.
The Tommies lead the best of three series 1-0.
"We're not yet. I'm just going to say that. The Reds aren't done yet. They better be ready on Monday," said Woodland.
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics