Fredericton, NB - In a tense battle of the hill Grad Game, STU Tommies clinched a hard-fought victory over UNB with a shootout win, propelling them into playoff contention with home-ice advantage.

The game kicked off with a lot of intensity from both sides, anticipated battle of the hill did not disappoint since the start of the game. UNB's Marisa Valla drew the lone penalty of the night for hooking at 17:50 in the first period. Despite some late scares, including a close call from Valla(UNB) hitting the post with just 2 seconds remaining, the period ended with a scoreless tie, setting the stage for a tense battle.

The second period saw both teams ramping up the intensity, with back-and-forth action and numerous scoring opportunities. Ella Chambers came close to breaking the deadlock for the Tommies, but a stellar save from UNB's Mccallum kept the game deadlocked at 0-0 heading into the final frame.

As the third period unfolded, both teams pressed for the game-winning goal. Tommies captain Ekaterina Pelowich had a prime scoring chance late in the period, but Mccallum came up big once again with a crucial save to keep UNB in the game. With regulation time ending in a scoreless stalemate, the teams headed into overtime in search of a victor.

Despite a spirited overtime period, neither team could find the back of the net, leading to a shootout to decide the winner. Lauren Smith scored for the Tommies, while UNB's Katelyn Scott and Payton Hargreaves failed to convert their chances. Although Tommies captain Ekaterina Pelowich missed her shot, Claire Nimegeers stepped up to seal the deal with a goal, securing a 2-0 shootout win for the Tommies and their first victory against UNB this season.

With the win, the Tommies capped off their season on a high note, finishing in 4th place and earning home-ice advantage in the playoffs against Moncton. Meanwhile, UNB will need to play another game to determine their final standing in the AUS. The next and last game for UNB will be against STFX next Tuesday, February 13th.

Katie Sweeney from STU and Cassie McCallum from UNB were awarded three stars at the end of the game for their outstanding performances in goal, with Sweeney making 24 saves and McCallum tallying 22.

Reflecting on the game, Tommies player Payton Jacobs said, "An amazing game tonight, all three periods we played really well, the shootout was great, energy was great, it's definitely a really good way to start the momentum going into playoffs, excited to get back next week."

Recap by Martin Carvajal - STU Athletics 

Photo by SRM Photography