Reds Advance With Win Over Tommies

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB Reds are moving on the Atlantic University Sport semi finals.

The Reds advanced with a 1-0 win, Monday, over the St. Thomas Tommies to win their best of three quarter final series two games to one.

Reds goaltender Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC) stopped all 30 shots she faced to earn the shut-out. Woodland was named Subway Player of the Game.

"It just makes everything feel so much better when you get the win," said Woodland. "We might not be the most skilled, but we will be the hardest working team. I think, if it's going to come down to a 1-0 game, it's my job to keep it 1-0. It's playoff hockey, it's intense, but it's my favourite hockey to play."

The Tommies had a glorious chance to open the scoring, just past the five minute mark of the first period. Lauren Legault's (Winnipeg, MB) backhand shot, from in close, bounced off the post and rolled out of harm's way.

Two and a half minutes later, Megan Pardy (Courtice, ON) let a one-timer go from the left side of the slot, but Woodland made a nice pad save.

At the other end of the rink, Jenna MacLean (Wilcox, SK) feathered a nice pass to Sage McElroy-Scott (Morden, MB) in the slot, but her re-direct was stopped by Caroline Pietroski (Etobicoke, ON).

Then, with time winding down in the opening period, the Reds struck.

Frederike Cyr (Candiac, QC) tipped a Myah Bowal (Terrace, BC) feed past Pietroski at 18:45 of the first, giving the home team a 1-0 lead.

"It was a great pass from Myah, and I just put my stick there and it hit my stick and it went our way," said Cyr.

In a scoreless second period, there were chances for both teams.

Mid-way through, the Tommies were able to kill off more than a minute of 5-on-3 Reds power-play.

Late in the period, the Reds killed off a four-minute penalty.

About 12:00 into the third period, Jacey Dane (Aurora, ON) had an opportunity from point blank range, but fired the puck right at Woodland, who made an easy save and hung on to the puck.

Moments later, Olivia Reid (Aurora, ON) and Emily Oleksuk (Thunder Bay, ON) broke in 2-on-1. Reid fed Oleksuk, but again Woodland was there to make the save.

The Tommies went on the power-play late in third, but the Reds held.

St. Thomas pulled Pietroski with 1:55 to play, but UNB wouldn't be denied, holding on for the 1-0 win, taking the series 2-1.

"It's difficult, obviously, when your season comes to an end," said Tommies head coach Peter Murphy. "I'm really proud of the girls, I thought they played well tonight, and in every game, honestly. I didn't think there was a bad game, other than the first period of the first game, I thought we played well in every game."

The Tommies outshot the Reds 30-20.

The Reds won the faceoff battle, winning 25 of the 46 puck drops in the game.

"It's a big moment. Any time you can win a playoff series, it's the best time of year to win hockey games," said Reds head coach Sarah Hilworth. "They (STU) played very well, and they had opportunities to tie the game. Our goalie and our players stepped up when we needed them to."

The Reds now move on to the AUS semi finals, where they'll face either the Saint Mary's Huskies or St FX X-Women.

"We're obviously going to be playing a top dog, a top two, and we have to come in with a chip on our shoulder and just use the experience that we've gained," said Woodland, about what lies ahead.

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics