No. 1 REDS Beat X-Women
(ANTIGONISH, NS) The U SPORTS No. 1 ranked UNB REDS won the battle of the top two Atlantic University Sport women's hockey teams with a 2-1 victory over the No. 6 ranked STFX X-Women, on Saturday, in Antigonish.
Lillian George's (Nipissing First Nation) short-handed marker at 14:50 of the second period held up as the game winner for the REDS, who improved to 11-0-0-1 on the season.
The game was a tightly played, low-scoring affair between the top squads, with X-Women goalie Jamie Johnson (Victoria, BC) and REDS backstop Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC) both standing on their heads, making 20 and 33 saves respectively.
STFX hit pay dirt first, with Maggy Burbidge (Falmouth, NS) opening the scoring with just under five minutes gone.
The teams stayed tight in the second period, with defence playing big at both ends. Just after halfway through, the REDS came back after killing a penalty and tied the game with Talli Warren (Mundleville, NB) potting her second goal of the year. Peyton Hargreaves (Whitby, ON) and Frederike Cyr (Candiac, QC) assisted.
STFX had another powerplay a few minutes later, but it was the REDS making the most of it, with George scoring after taking a pass from Ashley Stratton (Mount Pearl, NL).
The X Women and the REDS came out on the offensive again in the third period, but X had a hard time gaining any momentum while killing off a couple of penalties early in the period.
Both teams had solid chances, but Johnson and Woodland were both able to handle the pressure. UNB appeared to score an empty netter with 24 seconds left, but it was waived off due to offside. Shots at the end of the game were 24-22, in favour of X.
George was named third star, Johnson the second star, and Woodland earning first star and Subway Player of the Game.
The X-Women visit the Dal Tigers on Wednesday, while the REDS visit those same Tigers on Friday. Both games are scheduled for 7:00pm starts.
RECAP BY: Matt Draper/for STFX Athletics
PHOTOS BY: Bryan Kennedy/for STFX Athletics