(HALIFAX, NS) The UNB REDS scored four unanswered goals on route to a 5-3 win over the Saint Mary's Huskies, in Halifax, on Saturday afternoon.
Lily George (Nipissing First Nation) scored three of the UNB's five goals, including the winner. She was named Subway Player of the Game.
"Tonight was a big win for us," said George. "Everyone brought it to another level when we were down which led to our success."
"We had a hard-fought win and I'm proud of our group's resiliency," said REDS head coach Sarah Hilworth. "We had some great performances by players, highlighted by Lily's 200-foot commitment to our team's success."
Huskies' forward Shae Demale (Red Deer, AB) scored all three Saint Mary's goals, while Kara MacLean (Antigonish, NS) assisted on all three.
The opening two and a half minutes saw the Huskies with a couple of chances thwarted by UNB goalie Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC).
The Huskies kept pressing though and broke through just 7:55 into the game.
Demale came off the bench, carried the puck into the offensive zone then passed. The initial shot was stopped by Woodland, but Demale was positioned to the left side of the net and buried the rebound.
UNB got their first good chance minutes later when Frederike Cyr (Candiac, QC) forced a turnover and shovelled a pass to Myah Bowal (Terrace, BC) who was all alone in tight to the net, but a nice pad save by first year goalie Ridleigh Hansen (Red Deer, AB) kept the score 1-0.
The REDS had another excellent opportunity late in the period when a SMU defender whiffed on a pass in the neutral zone. Reagan Minor (Dunnville, ON) scooped up the puck and a had a brief breakaway before she was caught by a pair of backchecking Huskies players.
The start of the second period saw some powerplay time left on the clock for UNB and they almost capitalized when Jenna MacLean (Wilcox, SK) took a wrist shot from the point that got through traffic but rang off the crossbar.
Minutes later the home side was pressuring again and a shot from Eve Leblanc (Petit Rocher, NB) wasn't cleanly handled by Woodland and Demale slid home her second of the game to make it 2-0.
UNB wouldn't let that deter them as just seconds later, George entered the zone from the right side with just one player to beat and flicked a shot off the shoulder of Hansen that dropped behind her and trickled across the line to bring the REDS within one.
Before the midway mark of the period Demale completed her hat-trick with a wrist shot from the top of the right circle that beat Woodland to give the Huskies a 3-1 lead.
The middle frame saw more scoring when UNB capitalized with a powerplay marker.
Paige Grenier (Olds, AB) saw Tamina Kehler (Chilliwack, BC) across the ice and fed her a pass that Kehler sent low past Hansen to make it 3-2.
In the third, the REDS did a good job of clogging the shooting lanes and blocking shots, and as the saying goes, good defense leads to good offense.
About seven minutes into the period, Sydney Oitomen (Mississauga, ON) made a pass to Melanie Drost (Nepean, ON) who fired a perfect shot that went bar down to tie the game 3-3.
The next ten minutes saw both teams trade chances.
George took a shot from the left side circle that bounced off the post then off the back of Hansen before crossing the line.
George completed the hat-trick and iced the game with an empty-netter as the REDS completed the comeback, winning 5-3.
"It's awesome seeing Lily rewarded for all of her hard work," said Hilworth.
The REDS next challenge comes on October 22nd when they host the Huskies at 3:00pm.
"We're looking to bring our momentum that we've gained from this weekend and carry it into next weekend," said George.
The Huskies head to Mount Allison on Sunday to take on the Mounties in a 6:00pm start.
RECAP BY: Troy Langstaff/for SMU Athletics
PHOTOS BY: Nick Pearce/for SMU Athletics