Reds Upset No. 2 Huskies

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB Reds upset the U SPORTS No. 2 ranked Saint Mary's Huskies 3-1 on Wednesday night.

First-year defender Marley Van Den Oetelaar scored her first Atlantic University Sport goal at 17:07 of the third period, breaking a 1-1 tie and propelling the Reds to victory.

"I got the puck at the point and moved to the middle and just shot it," said Van Den Oetelaar. "I saw it sit on her pad, and when she moved, I saw it drop and everyone celebrated."

Van Den Oetelaar's goal gave UNB a late 2-1 lead. The Reds would add an empty net goal to seal the victory.

UNB opened the scoring at 14:59 of the first period, on the power-play.

Paige Grenier (Olds, AB) was left alone at the side of the Huskies net and beat netminder Rebecca Clark (Keswick, ON). Grenier pounced on a rebound, off a shot by Ashley Stratton (Mount Pearl, NL) and tapped it past Clark.

In the second period, the Reds had a chance to add to the lead when the Huskies were assessed a 4:00 penalty for head contact. UNB was on the penalty kill at the time, but emerged with more than 2:40 of power-play time. They failed to convert.

Late in the period, the Reds threatened with a 3-on-1, but Huskies defender Ellen Laurence (Kentville, NS) made a nice play to strip UNB of the puck.

Miranda Hatt (Eastern Passage, NS) pulled the Huskies even at the 14:49 mark of the third, roofing a one-timer over Reds goalie Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC).

Van Den Oetelaar's goal came a short time later, off a hard forecheck.

"I can bail them out, and when that went it, I knew they'd bailed me out," said Woodland. "It was a feeling of relief, and to end really strong, it was awesome."

Frederike Cyr (Candiac, QC) added an empty-net goal with three seconds left on the clock.

"Everyone's just super excited, super hyped up," said Van Den Oetelaar, of the Reds victory over the AUS leaders. "It feels good because we know we can be up there with them, and we just proved it. It feels great."

The Huskies, as expected, were upset with the loss.

"The girls were putting in the effort today. We were dominating them most of the game," said Hatt. "It just comes down to unlucky bounces and unlucky calls. I'm not making excuses or anything, but I think we deserved it tonight."

The Huskies, now 17-4-1, remain atop the AUS standings. They return to Halifax for a Friday evening contest at Dalhousie.

The Reds, now 14-8, visit the Tigers on Saturday. Game time is 7:00pm.

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics