(MONCTON, NB) Payton Hargreaves’ (Whitby, ON) goal at 8:27 of overtime gave the UNB REDS a 2-1 win over the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues on Tuesday night in Moncton and a sweep of their best of five Atlantic University Sport semi-final series.
The REDS won all three games by 2-1 scores.
Hargreaves took a pass from Katelyn Scott (Almonte, ON) and had to control a bouncing puck before hammering a shot past Annick Boudreau (Memramcook, NB) in the Moncton net to end the series.
“Going into OT we knew it wasn’t going to be a pretty goal that would get us to nationals, it was going to take some grit, and that’s exactly what it was,” said Hargreaves. “It was a chaotic play, having to backcheck and then transition to offence. Scotty made a great play, stopping and passing, and I just had to get it on net.”
“Payton’s overtime winner is a testament to the character in our room,” said REDS’ head coach Sarah Hilworth. “Winning a series like this takes heart, resilience, and a full team effort. We knew it wouldn’t be easy, but everyone bought in, battled hard, and found a way to get it done.”
Tuesday’s game, like the two before it, was extremely close and featured strong defence and good goaltending at both ends of the ice.
After a scoreless first period, the REDS opened the scoring late in the second.
Off a face-off in the Moncton zone, Hargreaves pulled the puck back to defender Lilly Bell (Waterloo, ON). She fired a wrist shot from the blue line that was tipped by Jorja Nystrom (Leduc, AB).
With time winding down in the third period, Amélie Vachon (Ste-Blaise sur Richelieu, QC) scored for the home team at 14:44, setting the table for late drama for a third consecutive game.
Hargreaves’ goal came with just 1:33 remaining in the first overtime.
“It was a wave of relief knowing we’re heading to our fourth consecutive AUS Final and we’re able to punch a ticket to Waterloo,” said Hargreaves. “I’m proud of the girls, knowing this is what we’ve been fighting for all season.”
The REDS now advance to the AUS Championship Series where they’ll face either the STFX X-Women or the St. Thomas Tommies. The X-Women currently lead that best of five semi-final series two-games-to-one. Game four will be played Wednesday night, in Fredericton.
The win also qualifies the REDS for the U SPORTS Women’s Hockey Championship Tournament, hosted by the University of Waterloo, March 20-23.
“Punching our ticket to the national championship and the AUS Final is huge, but we’re not done yet,” said Coach Hilworth.
