UNB Beats Moncton

(FREDERICTON, NB) Ashley Stratton (Mount Pearl, NL) scored twice in a 69 second span to lead the UNB REDS to a 3-1 win over the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues, in Atlantic University Sport action on Friday night.

"The first one was a great drive by Payton (Hargreaves) and I was just lucky enough to pick up the rebound there," said the third year REDS forward. "I think we started really strong, so that's what helped us there and then we got a lucky powerplay and I got a nice pass back, saw the opening and we had a nice screen in front, but I think it was the start that we had there that really contributed to that."

Stratton's first goal came at the 9:31 mark of the first period, after Payton Hargreaves (Whitby, ON) got a shot off on a breakaway. Moncton's Audrey Berthiaume (St-Bruno, QC) made the save, but gave up a rebound. Stratton, trailing on the play, was on the spot to capitalize.

Just 23 seconds later though, Marika Gagnon (Embrun, ON) tied the game 1-1 on a scramble in front of REDS goalie Cassie McCallum (Rothesay, NB).

Another 46 seconds after that, Stratton scored her second goal. She took a drop pass from Frederike Cyr (Candiac, QC) and fired a wrist shot past Berthiuame.

In the second period, the Aigles Bleues had opportunities to pull even again when they were given four consecutive powerplays. They failed to convert.

Then, with time winding down in the second, UNB needed only five seconds of powerplay to extend their lead.

With Gagnon in the penalty box, Hargreaves won a faceoff in the Moncton zone. Lauren Carter (Milton, ON) played the puck back to Jana Headrick (Garden River, ON) who fired a slap-shot through traffic that beat Berthiaume and gave UNB a 3-1 lead.

Moncton played the final 3:12 of the game with an empty net and six attackers on the ice, but couldn't close the gap.

"I think, if we would've been a bit more consistent with our effort, and if we would've worked a full 60 minutes it would've been a different game," said Aigles Bleues forward Janie Poitras (Saint Andre, NB). "We have to work on staying up and not having too many ups and downs during the game."

McCallum, making her AUS debut, stopped 25 of the 26 shots she faced.

"I was a little bit nervous when I got to the rink, first game nerves, but as soon as I got that first shot I was dialed in and I was ready," she said. "I think everyone in front of me played a great game. I had lots of blocked shots, which really helps me in the net. I'm happy with the outcome and how I played."

For her two-goal effort, Stratton was named the Subway Player of the Game.

With the win, UNB improves to 4-0-0-1, good for first place in the AUS.

Moncton falls to 2-and-3, and is tied for fifth.

"I think that's pretty good for us," said Stratton. "We want to go up from now on and I think that just shows that we can be better and, even at some points in that game it wasn't our best, but we kept on going and I think it shows how confident this group is.

Moncton returns home and will host St FX on Saturday night, while the REDS will welcome that Dalhousie Tigers to the Aitken Centre. Both games start at 7:00pm.

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics