X-Women fall 2-1 to Reds

(FREDERICTON, NB) For the second time in two weeks, the UNB Reds have knocked off a nationally ranked opponent. The Reds beat U SPORTS No. 6 ranked St FX X-Women 2-1 on Friday evening.

Ashley Stratton (Mount Pearl, NL) scored midway through the third period and Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC) stopped 32 shots to lead UNB.

"I think everybody played pretty well today and everyone was at the top of their game," said Woodland, named Subway Player of the Game. "I think everybody needed that. It's a great feeling, every time the game is over and you pull the 'W' out."

Two weeks ago, the Reds stunned then No. 7 ranked Saint Mary's.

The X-Women dominated in the early going. For much of the opening period, St FX had the Reds hemmed in their own zone and defending against a rigorous X fore-check.

At 10:46 of the first, Sarah Bujold (Riverview, NB) beat Woodland to give X a 1-0 lead. But that lead didn't last long.

Three minutes later, UNB's Jennifer Bell (Miramichi, NB) carried the puck in on X goalie Carley Molnar (London, ON) and got a shot off. Molnar made the save, but Lily George (Garden Village, ON) was there to collect the rebound and beat Molnar with a back-hand shot to tie the game 1-1.

There was no scoring in the second period.

Five and a half minutes into the third, Bell broke in all alone on Molnar, but her shot was pushed aside by the X-Women keeper.

Then, at 9:17, Stratton broke down the right wing and put a shot on net. The puck just squeezed past Molnar. UNB and Woodland held off a furious X charge through the final minutes of the game, and hung on for the 2-1 win.

"I liked our game in the first," said X-Women head coach Ben Berthiaume. "We were looking good, working hard and doing the right things, then we got away from that a bit in the second and UNB turned it on and they got better as the game went on and we didn't keep up with it."

In the first meeting of the season between these teams, on October 19^th, the X-Women handed UNB a 6-0 loss. Woodland says that stuck with the Reds. "We kept a chip on our shoulder," she said. "We knew we had to take it to them, that wasn't the team that we are, so we need to prove that we are better."

With the win, the Reds improve to 5-3-3. The X-Women are now 6-3-2. They head home to face Mount Allison, on Sunday at 2:00 pm. UNB welcomes the Dal Tigers on Saturday. Game time is 7:00pm.

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Recap Courtesy Andy Campbell, UNB Athletics