Panthers Shutout Reds
(CHARLOTTETOWN, PE) The UPEI Panthers shutout the UNB Reds 5-0 on Sunday afternoon.
"Last time UNB was in this building, they exited us from the playoffs and a lot of the girls in that room remembered that feeling," said Panthers head coach Bruce Donaldson.
Rachel Colle (Toronto, ON), Jenna Pellerin (Halifax, NS), Kelly Clements (High Bank, PE), Samantha Mintz (Toronto, ON) and Sophie Vandale (Winnipeg, MB) each scored a goal in the win, while Camille Scherger (Lloydminster, AB) recorded her fifth shutout of the season.
"Probably our best 60 minutes," said Donaldson. "I just felt we were limiting their shots and opportunities and we seemed to get stronger as the game went on."
It was team's defence that set the tone early. They limited the Reds to just five shots on net in the first period and did not allow a single shot on two penalties against the second best power-play in the league.
"We knew they had one of the best power-plays in the league, but we had a defence out there throwing their bodies around and blocking shots," said Vandale, who was named the Subway Player of the Game."
UPEI broke the scoreless tie at 6:21 of the second period, when Colle tipped home Vandale's shot from the point.
Less than five minutes later, Pellerin stole the puck in her own zone, skated the distance and wired a shot past goaltender Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC) for the 2-0 advantage. The defence, continued to stifle the Reds, who managed just three of their 18 shots in the period.
The Panthers followed the second with a scoring outpour in the third.
First, it was Clements, who sent a low wrist shot past Woodland to make it 3-0 at the 6:28 mark. At 8:06, Mintz got the puck in the slot and backhanded it in. Vandale scored just 14 seconds later for the 5-0 win.
"We know we're a really good team and we're trying really hard to prove that," said Vandale. "We saw that we were ranked fifth (in the preseason coaches' poll) and we we're like 'nope, this is not where we should be.'"
With the loss, the Reds are now 6-4 through ten game. They visit St FX and Dal next weekend.
UPEI, now 8-2, host Moncton on Saturday.
RECAP AND PHOTOS BY: Thomas Becker/for UPEI Athletics