Box Score

RIVER FALLS, Wis. (uwrfsports.com)-The UW-River Falls Men's Hockey Team took on UW-Superior at Hunt Arena Friday night.  Zach Schrotenboer scored his third goal in two nights, but it wasn't enough as the Falcons fell 5-2.   
 
The first period began with the Falcons pushing the pace and controlling the puck.  The initial burst by the Falcons drew the first penalty of the game just over a minute into the first period.  UW-Superior's Eric Shand was called for slashing at the 1:10 mark of the period.  The Falcons could not get much going on the initial power play of the game as the score remained tied at 0. 
 
After the power play both teams settled in to more of a defensive game, dumping the puck into each other's end and going after it, both teams were able to clear the puck without allowing  much pressure in their own end.  The Falcons would get another power play at the 9:23 mark of the period when Olle Sedelius was called for hooking.  The ensuing power play for the Falcons generated more pressure than the first power play, but they were still unable to find the back of the net to break the scoreless tie. 
 
After the power play ended for the Falcons, once again both teams settled in, only testing the goalies a few times the rest of the period.  Both teams blocked multiple shots and kept the opposing offense to the outside of the rink.  The first period ended with score tied at 0.  Tanner Milliron had a strong first period stopping all 14 shots he faced.  The Falcons managed to get 7 shots on the UW-Superior goalie.
 
The second period began much like the first period ended, with both teams playing good defense, the only difference being at beginning of the second period the physicality of the game increased with both teams delivering thunderous checks on their opponents throughout the ice. 
 
The Falcons broke the scoreless tie at the 6:40 mark of the period when Zach Schrotenboer took a rocket shot from the circle and beat the UW-Superior goalie right under the cross bar.  He was assisted on the goal Joe Drapluk, when he caused a turnover in the neutral zone and found Schrotenboer streaking into the offensive end, the goal put the Falcons up 1-0. 
 
The Falcons would strike again to take a 2 goal lead 2 minutes later at the 8:38 mark of the period.  Christian George skated out from behind the Superior net and wristed a shot to the back of the net.  He was assisted on the goal by Kyle Gattelaro. 
 
The Falcons looked to increase their lead to 3 for the next 5 minutes putting tremendous pressure on the Superior defense and firing shots at the goaltender, but they were unable to get a third goal.  Superior would cut the Falcon lead in half at the 14:59 mark of the period when Jimmy Hughes beat Tanner Milliron with a wrist shot from the slot. 
 
2 minutes after the goal the Falcons'Micheal Lant was called for hooking at 18:11 of 2^nd period.  The Falcons would kill off the rest of the period to protect their 1 goal lead.  The second period ended with the Falcons out shooting the Yellowjackets 11-5.
 
The Falcons looked to increase their lead early in the third period when Matt Audette was called for holding just 22 seconds into the period.  However, on the ensuing Falcon power play it was the Yellowjackets that found the back of the net shorthanded.  Daniel Litchke got the puck behind the Falcon defense and beat Tanner Milliron to tie the game up at 2. 
 
The Yellowjackets would strike again 3 minutes later when Beau Browning found the back of the net, to give the lead to UW-Superior for the first time in the game at 3-2.  The Falcons took their timeout to stop UW-Superior's momentum, but it was to no avail.
 
The Yellowjackets would strike for their third goal of the period 2 minutes later at the 6:40 mark.  Viktor Sallhag took a pass from behind the net and beat Tanner Milliron short side to put the visitors up 4-2.
 
After the goal the Falcons would force the issue in the offensive end, looking to cut the Yellowjacket lead in half.  They generated multiple scoring opportunities but they could not get the puck past the Yellowjacket net minder.  The Falcons pulled their goalie with 2:31 left in the game for the extra attacker and generated great pressure and kept the puck in the offensive end for an extended period of time, but could not find the back of the net. The Yellowjackets would add an empty net goal late in the period to make the final score 5-2. 
 
The loss drops the Falcons overall record to 14-6-3 and 4-2 in the WIAC.  The Falcons are back in action next Tuesday February 9, at UW-Superior, when they look to earn a split of the season series.  Puck drop is set for 7:05pm.