AUS Women's Hockey Playoffs: Reds wrap up series against Huskies, move on to AUS final

Huskies fall 2-1 in a tough Game 4 of semifinals series battle 

(Halifax, N.S.) - The Saint Mary's Huskies came out with a quick pace and intensity as they looked to extend their season, however it wouldn't be enough as the UNB Reds in the final moments of the game would take the lead 2-1, ending the Huskies season in Game Four of the semifinal series.  

The Huskies came out with a fast pace to start the game. Reds netminder Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC) was tested early on as Huskies Miranda Hatt (Regina, SK) fired a shot from the faceoff circle, and Huskies Ashley Penny's (Lawrencetown, NS) attempt to tap in the rebound.  

The Reds pushing back against the Huskies had an opportunity halfway through the first period, with a shot from April Reiner (Kitchener, ON) and Emma Giordano (Ancaster, ON) jumping on the loose puck, but Huskies goaltender Ridleigh Hansen (Red Deer, ON) was there to make the saves.  

At just over five minutes left to play, UNB's Payton Hargreaves (Whitby, ON) fired on a shot through traffic, but Huskies netminder Hansen made the pad save, keeping the game tied 0-0.  

The Huskies kept up the quick pace, as Keyara Nelson (Belleville, ON) had an opportunity on a one-on-one, but Woodland stood firm, making the save.  

With three minutes left in the first period, the Huskies headed onto their first powerplay opportunity. The Huskies kept the Reds pinned in their zone, with great opportunities on point shots from Maddy Corbett (Sydney, NS), Hatt, and Kara MacLean (Antigonish, NS), but the Reds defense stood firm as Woodland came up with key saves. 

The Huskies outshot UNB 15-8 in the first period, with the game scoreless heading into the first intermission.  

Seconds into the second period, keeping up the quick pace, Hatt came streaming into the Reds zone but her shot went wide.  

Moments later, as the Reds tried to combat the Saint Mary's pressure, Mackenzie Keenan (Midhurst, ON) fired a shot from the point, but her shot went wide.  

Five minutes into the second period, the Reds headed onto their first powerplay. UNB had a couple of opportunities, but the Saint Mary's defense stood firm. Huskies Gillian Lapierre (Port Coquitlam, BC) had a short-handed chance deep in the corner from a sharp angle, but Woodland made the save.  

The Huskies successfully killed off their penalty and ramped up the pressure with back-to-back big shots from Allie Barter (Hammonds Plains, NS) and Corbett, who dragged it by two defenders for an in-close shot, but Woodland would again was impenetrable, making the save.  

The Reds poured on the pressure as the period hit the halfway mark, with Melanie Drost (Nepean, ON) firing a shot in close, but Hansen made the stop.  

As the period went on, the intensity heightened, and as both teams traded opportunities, the pressure mounted as they both looked to be the first to get on the board.  

At 2:45 left in the second period, the Huskies headed onto their second powerplay opportunity, searching to take the lead.  

Pouncing on their opportunity, Huskies Jillian Duggan (Halifax, NS), from the left side, passed across the crease to teammate Penney, who made no mistake, putting it in the back net, taking the lead for the Huskies 1-0.  

The Huskies outshot the Reds 28-16 in the second period, with the Huskies leading 1-0, heading into the intermission. 

With the Reds taking a penalty late in the second period, the Huskies started the third period with just under two minutes on the powerplay.  

As the powerplay wound down, Penney fired a quick shot in the slot but Woodland stayed firm, making the glove save.  

Seconds after UNB killed off their penalty, they headed onto their second powerplay. UNB's Lauren Carter (Milton, ON), off of a scrum, found the loose puck and fired a shot at the wide-open net but hit the post, keeping the game 1-0 for the Huskies. 

The Huskies successfully killed off their penalty, but the Reds kept up the pressure. UNB's Keenan fired a shot, a scrum ensued, and Hansen found the puck to cover it.  

Moments later, UNB's Jorja Nystrom (Leduc, AB) picked off a pass in the Huskies zone and found teammate Rylee Strohm (Kingsville, ON) for a one-time shot, but it went wide.  

Halfway through the third period, the Reds took two penalties in quick succession, giving the Huskies a five-on-three powerplay. The Huskies seized the opportunity to send a flurry of chances onto the Reds net. The Huskies best opportunity came from forward Avery Cant (Waterloo, ON) firing a shot from the slot, the rebound bounced to Duggan who just missed tapping it in the backdoor.  

Two seconds after successfully killing off their penalty, Hargreaves, on a two-on-one, made a cross-zone pass to teammate Sydney Oitomen (Mississauga, ON), who tapped it upstairs to tie the game 1-1.

With under two minutes left in the game, Nystrom buries the puck on a rebound opportunity for the game and series winner for the Reds  

The Huskies outshot the Reds 35-24 on the night, with Woodland making 34 saves for the win, while Hansen turned away 22 shots in defeat. 

The Huskies loss means the end of their season, as the UNB Reds will go on to the AUS final series where they will play the winner of the other semifinal matchup between STFX and St. Thomas.

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