Hargreaves hat-trick leads REDS to 3-2 win over Huskies

HALIFAX, NS – UNB forward Payton Hargreaves scored a natural hat-trick, leading the REDS to a 3-2 win over the Saint Mary's Huskies in Atlantic University Sport women's hockey action on Friday night at the Dauphinee Centre in Halifax.

The Huskies opened the scoring with a powerplay goal just over nine minutes into the action, as a shot from Abigail MacKenzie (Stellarton, NS) was kicked away by REDS netminder Cassie McCallum (Rothesay, NB), but the rebound came to Kara MacLean (Antigonish, NS) who sniped a wrist shot to open the scoring, 9:09 into the first.

But the REDS equalized just five minutes later, with forward Payton Hargreaves (Whitby, ON) deflecting a shot from teammate Olivia Eustace (Riverview, NB) past Huskies goaltender Ridleigh Hansen (Red Deer, AB), tying the game at 1-1, 14:50 into the first period.

UNB took the lead with less than a minute remaining in the period, as Hargraves stripped a Huskies defender and fired a low backhand shot to put the REDS ahead 2-1, with 57 seconds left in the period.

The Huskies and REDS both recorded six shots in the opening frame, and the REDS took a 2-1 lead into first intermission.

The second period saw both teams generate a couple scoring chances, but neither team were able to beat Hansen and McCallum in goal. The Huskies outshot the REDS 9-8 in the second period, but the visitors held on to their 2-1 lead through 40 minutes of action.

Just over a minute into the third period, Hargreaves was sparked on a breakaway and scored, completing her natural hat-trick and extending the REDS lead to 3-1, 1:18 into the period.

The Huskies pushed to cut into the lead, and got one back with under two minutes left. After pulling Hansen from goal, the puck came out of a crowd onto the stick of forward Mia Faseruk (Winnipeg, MB) who fired a point shot that beat McCallum to cut the lead to 3-2, with 1:46 remaining.

But time ran out on the Huskies comeback effort, as the REDS held on for a 3-2 win.

The REDS and Huskies both fired 23 shots on goal in the game, with McCallum turning away 21 shots for the win, while Hansen made 20 saves in defeat.

The REDS win improves their record to a league-leading 14-4-0-0 on the campaign, while the Huskies drop to 7-9-0-2. Both teams will be back in action on the Dauphinee Centre ice tomorrow, with the Huskies hosting the St. Thomas Tommies (9-6-0-1) at 3 p.m., before the Dalhousie Tigers (7-5-2-2) 'host' the REDS at 7 p.m. GET TICKETS