Women's Panthers drop playoff opener at UNB

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The UPEI Panthers battled back after falling behind early, but could not get the equalizer Thursday in dropping Game 1 of their Atlantic University Sport women’s hockey quarter-final.
The host UNB Varsity Reds defeated the Panthers 3-2 in Fredericton, N.B. They can eliminate UPEI by winning Sunday at 2 p.m. at MacLauchlan while the Panthers will be trying to force a winner-take-all Game 3 Tuesday at UNB.
Lillian George and Ashley Stratton scored even-strength goals Thursday for the Varsity Reds while Paige Grenier made it 3-0 on the power play as UNB held 1-0 and 3-0 period leads.
Jolena Gillard and Katelynn Nice scored power-play markers in the third for the Panthers, but the tying goal wasn’t to be.
Jenna Maclean and Tamina Kehler each had two assists for the Reds while singles went to Hannah Green and Sage McElroy-Scott.
Kristen MacIntyre, Sophie Vandale and Jenna Pellerin had the helpers for UPEI.
Kendra Woodland made 28 saves for the win while Camille Scherger stopped 23 shots in the loss.
UPEI was 2-for-4 on the power play while UNB was 1-for-3.