George Leads REDS

(CHARLOTTETOWN, PE) The UNB REDS scored twice in the third period to beat the UPEI Panthers 3-1 on Friday night.

The REDS, now 2-and-1, got goals from Lillian George (Nipissing First Nation) and Rylee Strohm (Kingsville, ON) to come away with the win.

UNB jumped on the Panthers immediately and scored just 21 seconds into the game when Katelyn Scott (Almonte, ON) flipped a pass through the neutral zone to George, who raced it down and cut toward the net before slipping a shot under Sarah Forsythe (Riverview, NB) for the opening goal.

That was just the beginning of the REDS' pressure as they controlled the pace of play throughout the period, outshooting the hosts 13-1.

UNB's defence was smothering and didn't allow a shot on net until the 16:58 mark of the frame.

The Panthers came out of the first intermission a much better team and matched UNB's intensity.

At the 6:45 mark, an errant pass led to a George breakaway, but the veteran forward was denied by Forsythe, who finished with 27 saves and was the reason the game was close.

UPEI finally broke through at 15:05 when Carly Thompson (Cornwall, PE) passed it from the corner, in front to Paige Outhouse (Williams Lake, BC), who redirected it over Cassie McCallum's (Rothesay, NB) shoulder and in for the equalizer.

The Panthers then carried that momentum into the final stanza and, at times, looked like the better team, but the defending AUS champions delivered when it mattered most.

At 11:22, George netted her second of the game on a wicked shot that Forsythe didn't have a chance on.

With 52 seconds remaining, UNB iced the game on Strohm's first career AUS goal.

George was named Player of the Game.

The Panthers, still looking for their first win of the season, have a quick turnaround and will host the STFX X-Women Saturday night.

The REDS travel to Halifax to take on the Dalhousie Tigers. Game time is 7:00pm.

RECAP BY: Thomas Becker/UPEI Athletics

PHOTOS BY: Janessa Vanden Broek/for UPEI Athletics