Reds nip X-Women 2-1 in battle of top two AUS teams

Antigonish, NS - The U SPORTS No. 1 ranked UNB Reds won the battle of the top two AUS women's hockey teams with a close 2-1 victory over the No. 6 ranked STFX X Women Saturday night at the Keating Centre.

Lillian George's shorthanded marker at 14:50 of the second period held up as the game winner for the Reds, who improved to 11-0-1 on the season.  

The game was a tightly played, low-scoring affair between the top squads, with X-Women goalie Jamie Johnson (Victoria, BC) and Reds backstop Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC) both standing on their heads, making 20 and 33 saves respectively. 

STFX hit pay dirt first, with Maggy Burbidge (Falmouth, NS) opening the scoring off an assist from Lea MacLeod (Dartmouth, NS) with just under five minutes gone.

It was back and forth in the first period, with the teams evenly matched for the first 10 minutes of play. STFX had the majority share of possession in the last 10, including a powerplay, but the Reds defence kept it at a one-goal game. Shots at the end of the opening period were 13-7 in favour of STFX.

The teams again stayed tight in the second period, with defence playing big at both ends. Just after halfway through, the Reds came back after killing a penalty and tied the game with Talli Warren (Mundleville, NB) potting her second goal of the year. Peyton Hargreaves (Whitby, ON) and Frederike Cyr (Candiac, QC) assisted.

STFX had another powerplay a few minutes later, but it was the Reds making the most of it, with Lillian George (Nipissing Fist Nation) scoring the shorthanded marker with the assist coming from Ashley Stratton (Mount Pearl, NL).

The Reds looked to extend the lead on an extended two player advantage, but the X-Women players stepped up and kept the lead at one goal. Shots at the end of the second were 24-18 in favour of STFX.

The X Women and the Reds came out on the offensive again in the third period, but X had a hard time gaining any momentum while killing off a couple of penalties early in the period.

Both teams had solid chances but Johnson and Woodland were both able to handle the pressure. The Reds appeared to score an empty netter with 24 seconds left but it was waived off due to offside. Shots at the end of the game were 24-22 in favour of X.

George received third star of the game honours, with Johnson picking up the second star, and Woodland earning first star and Subway player of the game.

The X Women next hit the ice on Wednesday to face the Dalhousie Tigers in Halifax, while the Reds will also next visit Dalhousie on Friday night.

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics