REDS Blank Tommies

(FREDERICTON, NB) Cassie McCallum (Rothesay, NB) made 19 saves as the UNB REDS won their eighth straight game, shutting-out the St. Thomas University Tommies 2-0 on Friday night.

McCallum's performance earned her the Subway Player of the Game.

"The team played great, I didn't have much action so that was great to see. I was really proud of how they played in front of me," said McCallum.

After both teams traded unsuccessful power-plays to begin the game, the REDS got a pair of golden chances at the halfway mark as both Payton Hargreaves (Whitby, ON) and Ashley Stratton (Mount Pearl, NL) would be stopped by STU netminder Caroline Pietroski (Etobicoke,ON) on back-to-back plays.

UNB would break through just two minutes later when Tamina Kehler (Chilliwack, BC) drove the net and jammed home the game's opening goal to make it 1-0 REDS after 20 minutes.

The REDS controlled play for the majority of the second, not allowing a STU shot until the halfway point.

This would lead to the Tommies taking a costly penalty that UNB would capitalize on.

Frederike Cyr (Candiac, QC) put a point shot on net that would create a goalmouth scramble where the puck eventually found the stick of Sydney Oitomen (Mississauga, ON) who put home the 2-0 goal.

The REDS outshot the Tommies 15-3 in the period to carry that lead into the third.

"We definitely wanted to shut things down in the third and not give them too much," said REDS' head coach Sarah Hilworth. "We knew they were going to take a step forward and give us a good push, but at the end of the day we really followed through with the little habits and details that we have been really stressing."

The two teams played a scoreless third period and UNB would take the contest 2-0.

Shots were 31-19 in favour of the REDS.

Pietroski made 29 saves for STU.

UNB improves to 8-0-0-1 with the win while STU drops below .500 with the loss. The Tommies are now 4-5-0-0.

The REDS are on the road Saturday to face the UPEI Panthers. Game time is 7:00pm.

STU will host the Dalhousie Tigers in another 7:00pm start.

RECAP BY: Jonathon James/for UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics