Huskies fall to REDS 4-2 as REDS Lily George makes history

HALIFAX, NS- The Saint Mary's Huskies fell to the UNB REDS 4-2 in an action-packed historic night at the Dauphinee Centre Friday night. UNB's Lily George became the all-time leading scorer in program history with her assist on the night.

Within the first minute of play, Huskies forward Ashley Penney (Lawrencetown, NS) scored her first goal of the season from a shot in the slot to give the Huskies an early 1-0 lead.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Ashley Penney scores just 21 seconds into the first period to give the Huskies an early 1-0 lead! @smuhuskieswh

��A. Penney (3)
��G. Lapierre
��M. Hatt pic.twitter.com/hZwQO32kLC

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) November 17, 2023

Moments later, the REDS responded with a shot from forward Lauren Carter (Milton, ON) but it went wide.

At 7:34, the Huskies went onto their first powerplay of the game. The REDS defence battled hard, having a short-handed chance with Sydney Oitomen's (Mississauga, ON) wrap-around attempt, but Huskies goalie Ridleigh Hansen (Red Deer, AB) was there to shut the door.

The Huskies had a two-on-one chance with Mackenzie Beggs (Kemptville, ON) and Gillian Lapierre (Port Coquitlam, BC) entering the zone, but REDS goaltender Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC) would be there to make the save.

Moments later, the Huskies offence had an opportunity when Kara MacLean (Antigonish, NS) passed from down low to Erin Denny (Eskasoni, NS) in the slot, who tried to tap it in, but her shot went wide.

Halfway through the first period, the Huskies offence went to work on their second powerplay of the game. The Huskies had a couple of opportunities sending lots of shots onto the REDS net, but the REDS defence stood firm, killing off the penalty.

In the last minute of play, Huskies forward Aimee O'Neil (Glace Bay, NS) fired a shot near the slot, hitting REDS netminder Woodland's shoulder.

As the teams headed into the first intermission, the REDS outshot the Huskies 11-8, with the Huskies leading 1-0.

In the first moments of the second period, the REDS had an opportunity to tie the game as the puck popped over the back of the net to REDS forward Carter in the slot, but her shot dribbled wide.

With five minutes gone in the second period, the Huskies went onto the penalty kill. The REDS made no mistake on their opportunity as REDS forward Lillian George (Nipissing First Nation) passed to teammate Payton Hargreaves (Whitby, ON) at the hash marks, whose one-timer went top right corner to tie the game 1-1.

Seconds later, Huskies forward Aimee O'Neill responded with a shot from the slot, sending the puck bar down to take back the lead 2-1.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

The REDS tied it up but the Huskies equalized just seconds later as Aimee O'Neill scores to restore the @smuhuskieswh lead at 2-1.

��A. O'Neill (3) pic.twitter.com/aa4MmqYXVB

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) November 18, 2023

As the period passed the halfway point, REDS defender Mackenzie Keenan (Midhurst, ON) fired a shot on net that teammate Oitomen tipped sending it into the back of the Huskies net, to tie the game 2-2.

Four minutes later, the REDS set up in the Huskies zone, REDS forward Jorja Nystrom (Leduc, AB) made a pass to teammate Hargreaves in the slot, who made no mistake in putting the puck in the net to take the lead 3-2 for the REDS.

With under a minute left in the second period, the Huskies went on to the penalty kill. REDS Hargreaves took a shot, but Hansen made a sprawling glove save. Seconds later, a puck went up and over Huskies goalie Hansen, but teammate Avery Cant (Waterloo, ON) dove across the goalie line to keep the puck out of the net.

As the teams headed into the second intermission, the UNB REDS Led 3-2 and outshot the Huskies 27-15.

The Huskies started the third period on the penalty kill. Moments after the opening face-off, Huskies forward Miranda Hatt (Regina, SK) had a short-handed breakaway opportunity, but her shot went into the chest of REDS goalie Woodland.

The Huskies successfully killed off their penalty, and as the period approached the halfway mark, both teams traded opportunities.

With under 40 seconds left in the Huskies powerplay, Lapierre fired a snapshot from the hash marks, but REDS goalie Woodland made the glove save to keep the REDS ahead 3-2. 

With five minutes left in the third period, the Huskies searching for the tying goal sent a flurry of chances onto the REDS goal, but REDS netminder Woodland stood firm.

At under three minutes to go in the game, REDS forward April Reiner (Kitchener, ON) took a shot from the ringette line that found its way under the pads of Hansen to take the lead 4-2 for the REDS.

Moments later, the Huskies pulled netminder Hansen for a 6-on-5-man advantage. However, the REDS defense would hold firm for the 4-2 win.

REDS forward Payton Hargreaves was named Player of the Game with a pair of goals, including the game-winner.

REDS netminder Kendra Woodland made 19 saves, while Huskies Hansen stopped 32 shots on the night.

The UNB REDS win improves their record to 11-2-0-0 on the season. UNB will be back in action tomorrow night as they visit the STFX X-Women at the Charles V. Keating Centre.

The Huskies loss drops their record to 5-5-0-1 on the season. Saint Mary's will return tomorrow night as they host the UPEI Panthers at the Dauphinee Centre, with puck drop at 7 p.m. GET TICKETS

Recap by Alyson Duffy / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Eduardo Ibarra / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics