(HALIFAX, NS) Payton Hargraves scored twice, and goaltender Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC), pitched a shutout as the UNB REDS defeated the Dalhousie Tigers 5-0 Saturday night.
"The team worked hard for our chances and were hungry to capitalize on them," said UNB head coach Kyle MacDonald. "We showed a lot of grit and got important contributions all through our lineup."
Hargraves waited until the 19:04 mark of the first period to score the opening goal for the REDS. After collecting a rebound from Jorja Nystrom's (Leduc, AB) point shot, she beat Dalhousie's Maggie Baxter (Mahone Bay, NS) at 19:04 to give UNB the 1-0 lead.
The second period began with the REDS getting yet another powerplay just a minute in. Despite peppering several shots at Baxter, UNB was unable to add to their lead. Minutes later, Robyn Brokenshier (St. Albert, Alberta) deposited a rebound sitting out front to make it 2-0 for the REDS.
As UNB continued to push to extend their lead, Rylee Strohm (Kingsville, ON) found herself on a break and made no mistake with a great shot to further extend the lead to 3-0.
About halfway through the second period, the Tigers got an opportunity on the powerplay to try and get back in the game. After the REDS killed a minute of their penalty, they were called for another, sending the Tigers on a 5-on-3 chance.
However, it did not slow down UNB, as they successfully killed the first penalty and sent captain Hargreaves in on a breakaway where she capitalized for a shorthanded goal, her second of the game, making it 4-0 REDS. That's how the period ended and UNB took the four-goal lead to the final period.
In the third period, the Tigers started to press. Their best chance came when Reagan Duffy (Burlington, ON) danced around a UNB defender and got a shot in close but Woodland made one of her 30 saves on the night in the shutout performance.
With under 10 minutes remaining the UNB would get one last powerplay to try and add to their lead. The Tigers were able to kill it off, but not long after the REDS found the back of the net once again, off a shot from Lilian George (Nipissing First Nation), to make it 5-0.
Hargreaves took home the Player of the Game award for the UNB REDS.
The REDS will look to keep it rolling with their next game coming Friday, October 20th at 7:00 pm taking on Mt. Allison in Sackville, New Brunswick.
The Tigers' next game is Friday, October 20th at 7:00 pm against St. Thomas in Fredericton where they will look to get back in the win column.
RECAP BY: Ryan Hyndman/for Dal Athletics
PHOTOS BY: Trevor MacMillan/for Dal Athletics