REDS move into 1st place with shootout win over X-Women

ANTIGONISH, NS - The UNB REDS moved into the top spot in the AUS women's hockey standings with a thrilling 2-1 shootout win over the STFX X-Women on Friday night at the Charles V Keating Centre.  

Rylee Strohm notched the shootout winner for UNB, after STFX's Joanna Martinson and UNB's Oliva Eustace each scored in the first round. It was the second time the two powerhouses went to a shootout this season, with UNB taking the wins.

Both teams have earned byes to the second round of the AUS playoffs, and each has one game left in the regular season. 

Kamdyn Switzer opened the scoring for the home team, jumping on a neutral ice faceoff win by Landyn Pitts, streaking down the wing and snapping one home with under four minutes to go in the first period. 

STFX goalie Bianca Zak and UNB netminder Hannah LeClair both came up with big saves late in the stanza, which ended 1-0 for STFX. 

The high intensity play continued in the second period, with both teams looking for an advantage. A four-on-four midway through the period led to several chances, but Zak and LeClair stood their ground. Eustace came close to tying the game late in the second but a tip in attempt went wide. 

STFX built a significant lead in shots in the third, but LeClair's strong play kept the game close. UNB pulled the goalie and went on the powerplay with 90 seconds left, setting the table for UNB's Melanie Drost, whose short side marker tied the game up with 3.5 seconds to go in regulation.  

STFX rang one off the post with a minute left in overtime, but the extra period also ended in a tie, leading to the shootout winner from Strohm.

Eustace was named Player of the Game and first star for her work on the evening, while Leclair was named second star and STFX's Ashlyn Garnett got the third star nod.

LeClair finished the night with 41 saves, while Zak had 29 stops for the Blue and White.  

The X-Women play their final game of the regular season on Sunday, February 16, when they head to Fredericton to take on the St. Thomas Tommies at 5 p.m.

UNB wraps up their regular season with a road game against the Dalhousie Tigers in Halifax tomorrow, February 15, at 7 p.m. 

Prior to the game the X-Women coaches honored their graduating senior players, including Alyssa Fitt, Kamdyn Switzer, Anna MacCara, Amaya Giraudier, Ella VandeSompel, and Landyn Pitts, along with student therapist Nikki Menko.

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Game Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics