(FREDERICTON, NB) Tamina Kehler (Chilliwack, BC) scored twice, including the winning goal, to lead the U SPORTS No. 1 ranked UNB REDS in a 3-2 victory over the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues on Wednesday night, at UNB's Aitken Centre.
"We're feeling good," said Kehler, named Subway Player of the Game. "We got the job done. We got the win, and at the end of the day, that's the most important thing, but we had a little work to do. They gave it to us a little bit, so going into our game against X, we've got to pick it up."
Kehler opened the scoring at 5:15 of the first period.
While falling to the ice, she managed to sneak the puck past Moncton goalie Audrey Berthiaume (St-Bruno, QC).
Moncton tied the score about four minutes later when Sara Régimbald (Embrun, ON) beat a screened Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC) in the UNB net.
"Everyone was in front of the net, everyone was well placed, and it just got in," said Régimbald. "It was a team effort goal."
That goal ended the REDS' shutout streak just shy of 168 minutes (167:56), more than eight full periods. The REDS shutout their previous two opponents.
Lauren Carter (Milton, ON) restored UNB's lead midway through the second period.
Just 22 seconds into the third period, Émilie Comeau (Hearst, ON) scored to draw Moncton even at 2, but Kehler took a nice feed from Myah Bowal (Terrace, BC) in the slot at the 13:04 mark and one-timed a shot through Berthiaume's legs for the game-winner.
"They play well against us, I'll give them that," said Kehler of the Aigles Bleues. "They always come out strong in the first period and I think we sit back on our heels before we start to play our game."
With the win, the REDS improve to 10-0-0-1 (W-L-OTL-SOL). They've earned 21 of a possible 22 points so far this season.
Moncton's record falls to 2-9-0-0.
"We were so close," said Régimbald. "It's really disappointing to not win when you've worked so hard for it, but we're going to get there."
The Aigles Bleues return home and will host the Dalhousie Tigers on Sunday afternoon, at 3:00pm.
The top-ranked REDS go to Antigonish on Saturday to face the No. 6 nationally-ranked STFX X-Women. Game time is 7:00pm.
"It's a big deal for the program, it's a big deal for us," said Kehler, of being the top-ranked team in the country. "We just want to make everybody proud and keep pushing."
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics