Panthers win 4th in a row with victory over UNB

(FREDERICTON, NB) The U SPORTS No. 6 ranked UPEI Panthers beat the UNB Reds 3-1 Saturday afternoon. 

A power-play goal by Faith Steeves (Havelock, NB) proved to be the winning goal for the Panthers. 

"They gave me the lane and I was like, I'm just going to take it, but it was a lucky goal, for sure," said Steeves. 

It was the Reds who opened the scoring, at 5:52 of the first period. 

Ashley Stratton (Mount Pearl, NL) took a pass through the slot from Lindsey Smith (Onslow, NS) and rifled a wrist shot past Panthers goalie Camille Scherger (Lloydminster, AB). 

There was end to end action throughout the remainder of the period, but no more scoring. 

Just 28 seconds into the second, Jenna Pellerin (Halifax, NS) scored for the Panthers, tying the game 1-1. 

Steeves' goal came at 8:21 of the second period. 

"I looked up into the crowd after I scored my goal and gave my grandfather a nice little wink," said Steeves, a New Brunswicker. 

UPEI scored their two goals on just four second period shots. 

A defensive battle then ensued, with both teams seeing limited opportunities. 

But, down a goal, with about a minute to play, Reds head coach Sarah Hilworth pulled goaltender Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC). 

The tactic almost worked. 

Hanna Matchett (Nanton, AB) hit a UPEI post on a deflection. 

The rebound was fished out of the corner and pushed ahead to Kaylee Dufresne (Orleans, ON), who raced the length of the ice, scoring into the open net to make the final score 3-1. 

"Last year UNB kind of had us, so we've tried to have their number this year," said Steeves. "We've excelled and played very well against them." 

Scherger stopped 32 of 33 shots in the Panthers net. She was named the Subway Player of the Game. 

Woodland stopped 14 of the 16 shots she faced in the Reds net. 

"We're not happy," said Stratton. "We know what we have to do against them and we know we can control the game against them, so it's just a matter of being able to capitalize and do what it takes." 

The Reds, now 9-and-6, host the Mount Allison Mounties on Sunday. Game time is 3:00pm. 

The Panthers, now 13-2-and-1, travel to Dalhousie to face the Tigers next Friday.  

RECAP: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics 

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics