REDS deliver 3-1 Game 1 victory over X-Women

ANTIGONISH, NS - The UNB REDS drew first blood in the Bell AUS Women's Hockey championship series, dropping the STFX X-Women 3-1 at the Charles V Keating Centre in on Monday night in front of a crowd of over 1,600 fans. The REDS now return to Fredericton with a chance to close out the series on home ice on Wednesday.  

UNB got on the board early, as Avery Thurston scored from a point shot two minutes into the game. April Reiner had the helper.

The visitors took control of the period from there, keeping STFX goalie Brooklyn Oakes busy throughout. Boston Pizza Player of the Game Olivia Eustace added another for the visitors eight minutes before intermission, firing a high shot short side after Alexandra Parvin poked the puck loose in the STFX zone.  

The X-Women carried the play in the second period, putting more pucks on the UNB net. STFX went to work on a powerplay late in the middle stanza but Cassie McCallum kept a clean sheet for the REDS through 40 minutes. 

The Blue and White fought to get back into the game in the third period, but UNB remained tough. STFX's Alexis Perry and Claire Carruthers rang shots off the post in quick succession with five minutes to go in the game while on the powerplay, but it was Alexandra Parvin who found the back of the net for UNB, sliding one low on a shorthanded breakaway after a great pass from Eustace.  

STFX pulled Oakes from the net in favor of the extra attacker, and captain Landyn Pitts roofed a pass from Perry with just over a minute left to get one back for the X-Women, but the REDS barred the door the rest of the way. 

The X-Women held the REDS to five shots in each of the second and third periods and finished the night with a 26-21 advantage.

The series now moves to Fredericton for Game 2 on Wednesday, March 11, at 7 p.m. 

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics

Prior to the game, STFX X-Women Track athletes Caroline Ash and Eileen Benoit dropped the ceremonial game puck. Both competed at the recent U SPORTS national championship and came home with individual bronze medals, Ash in the 1500m event and Benoit in the 3000m race.