(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS clinched first place in the Atlantic University Sport women's hockey standings with a 3-1 win over the Dalhousie Tigers on Saturday afternoon.
"Everyone had so much energy," said REDS' forward Lauren Carter (Milton, ON), named Subway Player of the Game. "We're trying to build that energy for the rest of the our playoff run and the last three games of our season."
Payton Hargreaves (Whitby, ON) opened the scoring for the REDS, jumping on a rebound 5:27 into the first period and shovelling it past Tigers' goalie Grace Beer (Oakville, ON). Lily George (Nipissing First Nation), playing in her 100th regular season AUS game, led the play and drew an assist on the Hargreaves goal.
After a scoreless second period, UNB was the first to strike in the third.
Carter converted a Tamina Kehler (Chilliwack, BC) pass in the slot, firing a one-timer past Beers.
"Our line has been in a little slump, so we needed to open that back up," said Carter. "I got a nice pass from Tamina and I was able to bury it."
The Tigers answered less than a minute later, Natasha Falk (Brandon, MB) beating REDS' goalie Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC).
Sydney Oitomen (Mississauga, ON) restored UNB's two-goal lead a short-time later, tipping a Jenna MacLean (Wilcox, SK) point shot through Beers' legs.
"Jenna took the shot from the point and had a perfect shot, right on my stick, so I tipped it and it went in five-hole, so it was a good goal," she said.
Oitomen, who is of African-Canadian heritage, scored in the REDS' Black Heritage Month Game.
"It meant a lot because I feel it is made for representation, for all the little black girls out there watching me play and watching our team play and it shows they can do it too. Representation matters."
In clinching first place overall, the REDS improve to 20-2-1-2 (W-L-OTL-SOL), while the Tigers fall to 13-9-4-1.
"I think that may be one of the worst games of our year," said Tigers' head coach Troy Ryan. "It's tough to have a game like that heading into our playoffs, where we'd won five straight heading into this game. We looked disconnected and sloppy and tired. We just have to be better. Obviously, some of the credit goes to UNB, they're a pretty structured team, pretty deep, but we didn't give them much of a game tonight."
Woodland stopped 14 of the 15 shots she faced.
Beers saw 28 shots, including 14 in the first period alone, stopping 25.
"We're trying to enjoy it right now and build up for that playoff run, trying to get one percent better every day," said Carter.
The Tigers see their next action on Wednesday, at STFX. Game time is 7:00pm.
The REDS play their final regular season home game on Sunday, against Mount Allison. Game time is 3:00pm.
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics