Bell Chimes For REDS In OT Win
(HALIFAX, NS) UNB's Lilly Bell (Waterloo, ON) scored the game-winning goal 57 seconds into overtime, as the U SPORTS No. 9 ranked REDS defeated the Saint Mary's Huskies 1-0 in Atlantic University Sport women's hockey action on Saturday night, in Halifax.
The opening period saw both teams exchange opportunities but neither team was able to capitalize. The REDS best chance saw defender MacKenzie Keenan (Midhurst, ON) firing a shot off the crossbar midway through the period.
The second period was more of the same – the Huskies found some offensive momentum, outshooting the REDS 10-3 over the period, but were unable to beat Cassie McCallum (Rothesay, NB), and the two teams remained deadlocked 0-0 heading into second intermission.
The Huskies nearly found the go-ahead goal in the third period, as forward Mia Faseruk (Winnipeg, MB) made a nbackhand pass onto the stick of Ava Shearer (Windsor, NS), but Shearer wasn't able to get a clean shot off and McCallum made the save.
Neither team scored in the third period, with each team recording four shots on goal, and they took the scoreless tie into overtime.
On the opening shift of the extra period, the REDS had a great scoring chance as forward Katelyn Scott (Almonte, ON) played a pass to a wide open Mackenzie Keenan, who attempted to beat Huskies' goalie Ashley Imlach (Newtonville, ON) blocker side, but was turned away.
The REDS would finally find the winning goal on the next shift, as Bell intercepted a Huskies pass at the blue line and took off on a breakaway, making a nice deke to beat Imlach, and giving the visitors the 1-0 win, 57 seconds in.
"I stepped up and intercepted the pass," said Bell. "I saw an opening and was fortunate to find the back of the net. It was great to end on a team win before the break."
McCallum was named Player of the Game, turning away 22 shots in the REDS win, while Imlach stopped 21 of 22 shots faced in defeat.
"Cass was outstanding tonight," said REDS' head coach Sarah Hilworth. "She was a wall when we need it. She brought contagious energy for our group and she was a leader from the back end. She gave us every opportunity to end 2024 on a positive note."
The REDS win improves their record to 13-3-1-0 (W-L-OTL-SOL). UNB will return to action on Wednesday, January 8thwhen they host Moncton. Game time is 7:00pm.
The Huskies overtime loss drops their record to 7-6-3-1 heading into the winter break. Saint Mary's will also be back in action on January 8th, hosting the STFX X-Women.
RECAP: Allan April/Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
PHOTOS: Eduardo Ibarra/for Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics