REDS defeat Huskies 1-0 in overtime

HALIFAX, NS – UNB defender Lilly Bell scored the game-winning goal 57 seconds into overtime, as the U SPORTS #9 ranked REDS defeated the Saint Mary's Huskies 1-0 in Atlantic University Sport women's hockey action on Saturday night at the Dauphinee Centre in Halifax.

The opening period saw both teams exchange opportunities but neither team was able to capitalize. The REDS best chance saw defender MacKenzie Keenan (Midhurst, ON) firing a shot off the crossbar midway through the period.

The REDS outshot the Huskies 11-8 through the first 20 minutes, with Huskies netminder Ashley Imlach turning away 11, while REDS Cassie McCallum (Rothesay, NB) stopped eight shots.

The second period was more of the same – the Huskies found some offensive momenteum, outshooting the REDS 10-3 over the period, but were unable to beat McCallum, and the two teams remained deadlocked at 0-0 heading into second intermission.

The Huskies nearly found the go-ahead goal in the third period, as forward Mia Faseruk (Winnipeg, MB) made a nice backhand pass onto the stick of Ava Shearer (Windsor, NS), but she wasn't able to get a clean shot off and McCallum made the save.

Neither team scored in the third period, with each team recording four shots on goal, and they took the scoreless tie into overtime.

On the opening shift of overtime, the REDS had a great scoring chance as forward Katelyn Scott (Almonte, ON) played a pass to a wide open MacKenzie Keenan, who attempted to beat Imlach blocker side but was turned away.

The REDS would finally find the winning goal on the next shift, as defender Lilly Bell (Waterloo, ON) intercepted a Huskies pass at the blue line and took off on a breakaway, making a nice deke to beat Imlach, and giving the visitors the 1-0 win, 57 seconds into overtime.

Cassie McCallum was named Player of the Game, turning away 22 shots in the REDS win, while Huskies netminder Ashley Imlach stopped 21 of 22 shots faced in defeat.

The REDS win improves their record to 13-3-1-0 on the season. UNB will return to home ice on Wednesday, Jan. 8, hosting the Moncton Aigles Bleues (9-4-2-1) at 7 p.m. at the Aitken Centre.

The Huskies overtime loss drops their record to 7-6-3-1 heading into the winter break. Saint Mary's will also be back in action on Wednesday, Jan. 8, hosting the STFX X-Women (11-2-1-2) at 7 p.m. at the Dauphinee Centre.

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Eduardo Ibarra / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics