(FREDERICTON, NB) Jorja Nystrom (Leduc, AB) and Katelyn Scott (Almonte, ON) scored shootout goals as the UNB REDS rallied to beat the UPEI Panthers 2-1 in Atlantic University Sport women's hockey action, Saturday night, at UNB's Aitken Centre.
Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC) stopped 30 of 31 Panthers shots in regulation play, earning Tim Horton's Player of the Game honours.
The win came in the REDS' fourth annual Pride Game, this year held in support of the "Hockey Is For Everyone" movement.
"It means a lot to me and the players on this team," said Woodland. "But it also means a lot to the community. To be able to be with a program that can represent something so special within our team and our community is pretty phenomenal. I'm just really proud to be a part of it."
The opening period drew back and forth opportunities for both teams. The REDS dominated in the first half of the period, and the Panthers took over in the remaining half.
Yet neither team could find the back of the net in the opening 20 minutes.
The Panthers' Chiara Esposito (Winnipeg, MB), opened the scoring at 13:12 of the second period, intercepting a REDS pass and flying down the ice on a breakaway. She beat Woodland, who missed the puck by a hair on her glove side.
"I think we played really well," said Woodland. "Especially in the second half. We had a bit of a wake-up call with a goal against, but I always have full faith in my team to battle back when we're down, and they did just that tonight."
Late in the second, UNB's Rylee Strohm (Kingsville, ON) made an effort to tie the game, firing a slapshot from the blue line. The puck hit Panthers' goalie Sarah Forsythe (Riverview, NB) in the shoulder, and rolled towards the net only to be stopped by the post. The puck was left sitting just above the goal line before being covered by Forsythe.
The Panthers held the 1-0 lead heading to the third period.
The REDS needed just one goal to get back into the game and they got it from AUS scoring leader Lily George (Nipissing First Nation).
With the clock winding down in the final period, at 14:29 on the powerplay, George found an opportunity to gain momentum toward the Panthers net and unleash a powerful wrist shot over Forsythe's blocker, tying the game.
"We wanted to capitalize on our powerplays," noted George. "I had an open lane to the net and was able to walk in and, luckily, found a spot to pop it in."
The third period closed with the teams even 1-1 and needing extra time to settle things.
Only one close opportunity came from the extra time.
Panthers' forward Chloe McCabe (Charlottetown, PE) had a breakaway at 1:15.
Faking a move blocker side, she tried to drive the puck in along the ice on the other side of the net, but Woodland would deny her with her pad.
With no scoring in the overtime, a shootout was needed.
Nystrom and Scott scored for UNB, both pulling skilled moves to beat Forsythe upstairs, while Woodland stopped both Panthers shooters she faced to give the REDS the victory.
With the win, the REDS finish the first half of their 2023-2024 AUS season with a record of 13-3-0-0 (W-L-OTL-SOL).
"I'm excited for a little relaxation," added Woodland. "Staying active, being on the ice and in the gym, it'll be a good refresher before we get back for the second half."
The Panthers move to 4-9-0-3 heading into the mid-season break.
Both teams see their next action on January 6th.
UPEI visits Moncton that night while the REDS are at Saint Mary's.
RECAP BY: Madison Tucker/for UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics