REDS defeat Huskies 3-2 in game one despite two goals from Penney

FREDERICTON, NB - Katelyn Scott (Almonte, ON) scored once and had two assists to lead the UNB REDS in a 3-2 win over the Saint Mary's Huskies in game one of their Atlantic University Sport women's hockey semi-final on Wednesday night at UNB's Aitken Centre.

Scott's three-point night, in her first career AUS playoff game, earned her Tim Horton's Player of the Game honours.

"It really raises the energy in the room that much further, getting that win," said Scott. "We've worked all year to get to the finals and that was a good start."

Regular season MVP and scoring champ Lily George (Nipissing First Nation) put the REDS on the board first, pouncing on a second chance opportunity at the 2:44 mark of the first period.

Less than 90 seconds later, Ashley Penney (Lawrencetown, NS) took a drop pass from Miranda Hatt (Regina, SK) and fired a shot past REDS goalie Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC).

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Miranda Hatt steals the puck away and dishes to Ashley Penney who makes no mistake, tying the game at 1-1, 4:12 into the first period!

�� A. Penney (2)
�� M. Hatt pic.twitter.com/Nwbn0hE9aj

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 21, 2024

The second period was, for the first almost 15 minutes, a goaltender's duel with Woodland and Saint Mary's Ridleigh Hansen (Red Deer, AB) trading big saves before UNB's Sydney Oitomen (Mississauga, ON) scored at 14:31 to give the home team the lead.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS �� @AUS_SUA Athlete of the Week Ridleigh Hansen makes a couple big saves to keep the game tied 1-1! pic.twitter.com/Jm978qeuBH

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 21, 2024

A minute and 14 seconds later, Scott made it a 3-1 game.

With 1:53 to play in the third, the Huskies pulled Hansen in favour of an extra attacker.

Penney scored her second of the night, with 1:38 remaining, to bring Saint Mary's within a goal, but that was as close as the visitors would get.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Hatt and Penney connect again for a late goal but the REDS take a tightly contest game one, 3-2.

�� A. Penney (3)
�� M. Hatt pic.twitter.com/Bh4suJfd5i

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 22, 2024

"It sucks to lose," said Penney. "You never want to have that feeling, but I think we can learn from that, and we don't want to feel like this tomorrow."

"UNB capitalized on their chances tonight, but we really gave it to them, no quit at the end," she added. "We battled until the end, and we've got to bring that momentum into tomorrow's game."

Woodland made 21 saves on 23 Huskies shots for the win while Hansen allowed three goals on 30 REDS shots.

"It was a good game with lots of energy," said Scott. "Everyone brought their best and we just have to keep that going to succeed."

"We have high expectations of Scotty," said REDS' interim head coach Kyle MacDonald, of the first year forward. "We have veterans that set the tone with their habits and for her, she's come into a situation where she's got great role models and you've seen it in her game all year."

Up 1-0, the REDS host game two of the best of five series on Thursday night.

Game time is 7:00pm.

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics