X-Women Force Deciding Game

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS gave up a late third period goal in a 2-1 loss to the STFX X-Women in game two of their best-of-three Atlantic University Sport women's hockey championship series, Wednesday night at UNB's Aitken Centre.

With the win, the X-Women even the series at a win apiece. STFX will host the deciding game on Friday.

The teams played a scoreless first period, but the X-Women were aggressive, outshooting the REDS 13-5 before a crowd of almost 900.

The second period looked a lot like the first, with the REDS holding off the X-Women.

The persistence of the visitors paid off at 17:23 when Vivian Hinch pushed into the REDS' zone and fired a wrist shot through the legs of REDS' goalie Cassie McCallum.

STFX took that 1-0 lead to the second intermission.

At 6:43 of the third, just seven seconds into a REDS' powerplay, Payton Hargreaves found a rebound in the slot and fired it past Brooklyn Oakes in the X net to tie the game.

But just over five minutes later, Ireland McCloskey broke down the left wing and lifted a shot over McCallum's shoulder to restore the X lead, and they'd hang on to that over the final eight minutes of the game.

McCloskey was named the Boston Pizza Player of the Game.

McCallum made 15 saves on 17 shots in the UNB net while Oakes made 29 saves on 30 shots for the X-Women.

The third and deciding game of the series will be played Friday night, at STFX. Game time is scheduled for 7:00pm.

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB REDS

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB REDS