Written by Madison Tucker, UNB Athletics
(FREDERICTON, NB) Bailey McMaster (Regina, SK) scored her first career Atlantic University Sport goal to drive the UNB REDS to a 3-1 victory over the Dalhousie Tigers, Sunday afternoon at UNB's Aitken Centre.
"We brought the intensity," said McMaster, named Tim Horton's Player of the Game. "We played our hardest, which gave us the results we wanted."
The Tigers were first on the scoreboard, scoring just under 90 seconds into the game.
Abby Wamboldt (Hammonds Plains, NS) came flying through center ice on a breakaway, faking REDS goaltender Cassie McCallum (Rothesay, NB) to the opposite side of the net and sliding the puck across the goal line.
The REDS responded quickly with a pair of goals from Lily George (Nipissing First Nation) and McMcMaster.
George scored a flashy breakaway goal, going blocker side on Tigers goaltender Grace Beer (Oakville, ON).
"I saw the puck flying out of the zone," added George. "Luckily, I got a step on it and found an open spot to put it in the net."
Less than three minutes later, McMaster followed, tipping a shot from Lauren O'Neil (Osgoode, ON) from the high slot.
After the first 20 minutes, the REDS led 2-1.
The REDS carried their first-period momentum into the second.
1:32 into the second, Rylee Strohm (Kingsville, ON) fired a high shot which found its way over Beer's shoulder.
Through two hard-fought periods, UNB remained on top 3-1.
The REDS battled hard in the final period, but the Tigers didn't let up.
Finding themselves on the powerplay four separate times in the opening half of the third period, the Tigers' strong penalty kill, with the help of netminder Beer, were able to hold their own against the REDS with the skater advantage.
With attempts from both teams, neither we're able to find the back of the net again, with strong goaltending on both sides. UNBs McCallum stopped 22 of 23 shots, whereas Beer denied 36 of 39 for the Tigers.
"It's nice to be back in the win column," REDS' interim head coach Kyle MacDonald expressed. "We had an enthusiastic bunch today after a quick turnaround. I think a big part of our success was keeping things simple, and when we did that, we were rewarded for it."
The REDS, now 17-5-0-0 (W-L-OTL-SOL) and second in the AUS standings, return to action on Wednesday, hosting the Mount Allison Mounties. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00pm.
Dal hits the ice again on Friday in Halifax, pairing up against St. Thomas. Game time 7:00pm.