Reds Snap Tommies 12 Game Win Streak With 3-1 Victory

The St. Thomas University Tommies had their 12-game winning streak snapped in a 3-1 loss to the University of New Brunswick Reds in the fourth installment of the Battle of the Hill Wednesday night at the Grant-Harvey Centre. 

The game marked the end of a phenomenal 12-game winning streak by the Tommie's.  

Head coach, Peter Murphy, sees this as just a bump in the road and will look to get his team back to the win column next game. 

"I think we just have to get back to our previous work effort," said Murphy. "It's not a bad thing, but full credit to them, they played well." 

Lillian George (Garden Village, ON) opened the scoring for the Reds when a fluttering puck found its way through the traffic to beat Tommies goalie, Abby Clarke (Springdale, NL), to give the Reds the first lead of the game.  

The Reds extended their lead midway through the second period when Hayley Hallihan (Miramichi, NB) managed to elevate the puck over Clarke, giving the Reds a 2-0 lead.  

The game marked the fourth installment of the renewed Battle of the Hill rivalry, but where this is a big deal for spectators, the game was just another day at the office for the Tommies. 

"Once they get here it's no different than any other game," said Murphy. "On our side we want to win against any team that comes in, they played a complete game." 

The Tommies did not get any offence generated in the middle frame, and that proved costly on Jenna MacLean's (Wilcox, SK) goal for the Reds to give the Tommies a sizeable 3-0 mountain to climb. 

The game marked only the third time all season Clarke surrendered three goals in a single game for the Tommies. 

The Tommies, however, got one back midway through the third period when Olivia Reid (Aurora, ON) pounced on the loose puck, courtesy of Alex Woods (Courtice, ON), and buried the rebound on the powerplay to get the Tommie's within two of the Reds. 

Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC) made 25 saves in the victory.  

The Tommies, meanwhile, have yet to lose two consecutive games this season, and will look to protect that trend this Friday when the St. Francis Xavier X-Women visit the Grant Harvey Centre.  

"I don't think you can take any night off. I don't see a team in this league where you can look at them and think you'll automatically win," said Murphy of the second place X-Women. "The preparation is the same, but beyond that we have to get ready for StFX."