X Steals AUS Final Opener

(FREDERICTON, NB) The STFX X-Women were able to overcome a goal in the first minute and came back to defeat the UNB REDS 2-1 in game one of the Subway Atlantic University Sport women's hockey championship series.

"Anytime you can start with a win in the playoffs, especially on the road in a short series like this, is key," said STFX head coach Ben Berthiaume. "I felt we battled through the whole night and got it done."

It didn't take long for UNB to get on the board, as Tamina Kehler (Chilliwack, BC) found the back of the net just 12 seconds into the game. Kehler was able to put home her own rebound in front of the net to give the REDS the early 1-0 lead.

The X-Women didn't back down, and began to take over the pace of play in outshooting the REDS 40-21 on the night.

That pressure eventually paid off as Maggy Burbidge (Falmouth, NS) blasted a wrist-shot past Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC) high glove side, on the power-play, to tie the game 1-1 at 17:38 of the first period.

"I was just coming down on the wing and I was kind of tired on the change and I just ripped the puck and hoped that it was a good enough shot to get passed her as it's hard to do that." Said Burbidge.

Headed into the second, STFX continued to control the pace of the game and at 11:46 of the period, Jayden Thompson (Aurora, ON) was able to put a bouncing puck past Woodland to give the X-Women their first lead of the night, 2-1, a lead they wouldn't relinquish. 

"It was a team effort," said Thompson. "It started on the wing, a great pass up to the high slot, shot and it was a rebound goal. It was a garbage goal, but you need those goals to win." 

The REDS had a number of chances to tie the game, but were unable to solve STFX goalie Jamie Johnson (Victoria, BC), who, despite the early goal, was solid on the night turning away 20 of 21 shots in the victory.

Meanwhile, Woodland had a busy evening stopping 38 of 40 shots in a losing effort.

"I thought we had a really good start to the game, and we were able to create some pressure and momentum off of that," said UNB head coach Sarah Hilworth. "We know their game. It's a hard game to play against them, they're one of the top teams in our league for a reason. At the end of the day, it wasn't anything that they brought differently it just came down to the little details that they were able to execute a little bit better than us tonight." 

Game two of the series goes Monday, in Antigonish.

Puck drop is at 7:00pm. 

"I think, going forward, we need to keep that momentum going off the start and not dip down like we did towards the end of the game," said UNB defender Jenna McLean (Wilcox, SK). "We got it in us, we just need to come out strong and play a full 60 next game."

RECAP BY: Evan Richtsfeld/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics