The Falcon men's hockey team was defeated by the Pointers of UW- Stevens Point by a score of 4-3 in a conference matchup at K.B. Willett Arena on Saturday night.
The loss was the second for River Falls in just as many days, as they were swept in the weekend series in Stevens Point, Wisc. On Friday night, the Falcons were dropped 3-1 despite taking an early lead.
At goaltender for the Falcons was Scott Lewan (Westland, MI, Alberni Valley, BCHL). Lewan has started in net for the majority of the Falcon's games this season, and has been one of the most impressive freshman that the Falcons have seen at the position in recent memory.
Scoring the first goal of the game was Pointer Garrett Suter at 9:41 in the first period. Suter scored a power play goal against Lewan on Friday night, and his success continued through the weekend with assists coming from teammates Max Bobrow and Nick Kenney.
Suter struck again at 18:17 in the first period on a power play chance following a holding penalty on Ryan Goodmanson (Clear Lake, Kenai River, NAHL). Assisting Suter on the goal was Alex Handy.
Goodmanson's penalty was only one of many throughout the game. The first period alone consisted of 10 penalties as emotions evidently carried over from the previous night. Friday's game was full of physical and aggressive hockey, including a brief post-game skirmish amongst several of the Falcons and Pointers.
In net for the Pointers was Nick Graves. Graves made three saves in the first period, as Stevens Point minimized the Falcons shooting opportunities for the first 20 minutes of play. Lewan made five saves in the period.
The Falcons played a great deal of the second period shorthanded, as Caleb Wolfgram (White Bear Lake, MN, Topeka, NAHL) racked up 15 minutes in the penalty box for slashing and shooting after the whistle. River Falls displayed superb puck control with their man down offense, and even put up their first goal of the game shorthanded. Josh Calleja (New Richmond, Wisconsin, MnJHL) was the Falcon responsible for the goal, and he was unassisted on the shorthanded score. The goal was Calleja's eighth of the season thus far, and his first time hitting the back of the net since Jan. 14 against the College of Saint Scholastica.
Freshman defenseman Jeff Burke (New Richmond, Topeka, NAHL) tied the score at 10:38 in the second period after sinking a well placed shot against Graves. The goal was the second of his young collegiate career. Assisting Burke on the game-tying goal was Justin Brossman (Littleton, CO, Sioux City, USHL). With the assist, Brossman took the top spot on the Falcons roster in points scored so far this season, with 19.
Eric McLintock (Traverse City, MI, Traverse City, NAHL) was cited for a crucial high sticking penalty later in the second period. The Pointers capitalized on the consequent man up opportunity and took the lead. Scoring the power play goal at 14:35 was Jon Bockmann, with assists being awarded to Suter and Harrison Niemann.
Andy Inderieden (Maple Grove, MN, Topeka, NAHL) struck back for the Falcons and tied the score at 16:15 in the second period. The even strength goal was Inderieden's fifth of the season, and his second in the weekend series at Stevens Point. Inderieden was assisted by Burke.
Suter earned a hat trick at 18:22 in the second period to cap off the scoring explosion that happened in the final 10 minutes of the second period. Suter was unassisted on the goal, which also came shorthanded following a high sticking penalty on Donnie Hallmark.
Lewan recorded 14 saves in the second period, and Graves tallied 8.
Suter's hat trick goal would prove to be the final score of the game as both teams battled it out for the final 20 minutes of play. Both teams played much more conservatively and avoided the penalty box to the best of their ability. The Pointers outshot the Falcons 11-6 in the third period, but both goalies denied each shooting opportunity. Lewan had a cumulative total of 30 saves in his valiant but losing effort, and Graves totaled 17 saves. Lewan has now fallen to 4-8-1 on the season.
The Falcons now hold a record of 7-11-1 this season, going 3-9 in NCHA conference play. The Falcons will be looking to rebound from the disappointing sweep at Stevens Point when they continue their streak of road games to face off against the Yellowjackets of UW- Superior. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7.pm. on Friday. The Falcons hold a 61-55-10 series record against their formidable conference opponents.
Box Score
