ANTIGONISH, NS - The UNB REDS lead the Atlantic University Sport championship best-of-three series 1-0 over the STFX X-Women following a tight 2-0 win at the Charles V Keating Centre Sunday night in front of almost 1000 fans.
UNB goaltender and player of the game Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC) picked up the shutout while turning aside 33 shots.
STFX held the advantage in scoring chances early on, including a great individual effort by Vivian Hinch (Vancouver, BC) but UNB's defence was up to the task. A powerplay saw the REDS take the first lead of the series, with Melanie Drost (Nepean, ON) tipping home a point shot from Lindsey Smith (Onslow, NS) with a minute to go in the stanza.
Shots at the end of the period were even at 11-11 as the REDS took the one-goal lead into the locker room after 20 minutes.
The back and forth action continued in the second period, with STFX trying to get on the board and UNB looking to extend their lead.
The visitors made it a two-goal game with three minutes to go in the period, with AUS first team all-star and captain Peyton Hargreaves (Whitby, ON) slotting home a shot from the top of the crease. The game's third star Jorja Nystrom (Leduc, AB) and AUS first team all-star Lillian George (Nipissing First Nation) assisted on the REDS' second powerplay marker of the evening.
UNB led in shots at the end of the second, 23-19.
The REDS continued to apply pressure on STFX in the third period, while the X-Women tried to get back into the game, firing shots at Woodland, who held her ground.
STFX pulled their goalie Amaya Giraudier (Assiniboia, SK) in the final two minutes while on the powerplay, but weren't able to beat Woodland. Shots at the end of the game were 33-31 in favour of STFX. Second star of the night Giraudier had 29 saves on the night for STFX.
The series now shifts to Fredericton for Game 2 on Tuesday, March 5th at 7:00 pm. Game 3, if necessary, is set for Friday, March 8th in Antigonish. Regardless of the outcome of the final series, both teams are heading to the U SPORTS national championship tournament running March 14-17 in Saskatoon.
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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics