FREDERICTON, NB - Sarah Bujold (Riverview, NB) scored 24 seconds into overtime to give the StFX X-Women a 2-1 win over the UNB Reds on Sunday afternoon.
"Going into the overtime, honestly, I was saying we need to score. I did not want to go to a shootout," said Bujold. "I was just screaming for it and I shot it as hard as I could."
The X-Women were aggressive from the opening faceoff, applying plenty of pressure in the first period.
Reds netminder Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC) was a wall for the home team, denying several X chances.
As time expired in the first period, Lydia Schurman (Summerside, PE) did manage to get the puck past Woodland, but officials ruled that it didn't cross the line until after the buzzer.
About 1:30 into the second period the X-Women had a two-on-one break, but Bujold couldn't beat Woodland.
X had a power-play immediately following that chance, but failed to capitalize.
Mid-way through the second, with UNB on the power-play, Ashley Stratton (Mount Pearl, NL) had the puck bounce right to her at the side of the net, but she couldn't put it past Carley Molnar (London, ON).
The home team did get to Molnar, at the 18:44 mark.
Working a three-on-one break, the Reds moved into the X zone. Stratton fed a beautiful saucer pass to Tamina Kehler (Chilliwack, BC) in the slot. Her rocket of a shot caromed down, off the crossbar, and into the net to give UNB a 1-0 lead.
X would tie it late in the third.
On the power-play, Lea MacLeod (Dartmouth, NS) scored on StFX's 42nd shot on goal.
Regulation time ended with the teams tied 1-1, setting the table for overtime and Bujold's dramatics.
Bujold was named the Subway Player of the Game.
"That's hockey, things like that happen, but we came out with a point," said Reds captain Sydney DesRochers (Woodstock, NB). "We had a good weekend, we played great against SMU, we played a decent game today. I think we did a great job."
Woodland stopped 44 of 46 shots, earning second star honours.
"She's a big piece of our team," said DesRochers. "She blocked a lot of shots today, but penalties happen and you have to learn from it."
"She's so good down low and we weren't really elevating it," said Bujold. "We got tons of shots, but they had so many bodies in front, we couldn't get it through."
With the overtime loss, the Reds are now 12-8-4, still fourth in the Atlantic University Sport standings.
The X-Women are 16-5-3 and in second place.
Both teams are back in action on Wednesday, part of the AUS celebration of Bell Let's Talk Day.
The Reds will host Moncton, while the X-Women are home to the Dal Tigers. Both games are scheduled for 7:00pm starts.
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Courtesy Andy Campbell, UNB Athletics