The Falcon men's hockey team tied the Pointers of UW- Stevens Point 1-1 in the Falcon's regular season finale, hosted at Hunt Arena on Saturday night.
The last time the Falcons and Pointers faced off was in a weekend series in Stevens Point in January. The Pointers were victorious in both games, 3-1 and 4-3.
In net for the Falcons was the phenomenal freshman goaltender Scott Lewan (Westland, MI, Alberni Valley, BCHL), who earned his 19th start of the season. The Pointers started goaltender Nick Graves.
The first period went scoreless, as both Lewan and Graves came up big for their teams. Both teams tallied 8 shots on the period but were unable to get past the lights-out goaltending. The Falcons defense played strongly throughout the first twenty minutes of play, including killing the only power play opportunity of the period following a tripping penalty on Ryan Goodmanson (Clear Lake, Kenai River, NAHL) at 12:36. Alec Hagaman and Donnie Hallmark found themselves in a tussle in the final minute of the first period, and both players received minor roughing penalties that carried into the opening of the second period.
The second period was jam packed with big hits and strong defensive efforts. The Falcons outshot the Pointers 12-9, but neither team was able to get past the opposing goaltender. The highlight for the Falcons in the second period was their penalty killing unit, as they shut down the Pointers on a four minute power play opportunity midway through the period when Sean Roadhouse (Tulsa, OK, Texas, NAHL) was sent to the penalty box for slashing and roughing.
Andy Inderieden (Maple Grove, MN, Topeka, NAHL) put up the lone Falcon goal of the game at 1:53 in the third period. The goal came as the Pointers transitioned over to defense while two of their players had broken sticks. Kyle Politz was in the penalty box for a cross-checking penalty that carried over from the second period, leaving only two Pointers with sticks to play defense. Inderieden and the Falcons capitalized on the opportunity moments after Politz left the box, giving them the 1-0 lead. Assisting Inderieden on his sixth goal of the season was Josh Calleja (New Richmond, Wisconsin, MnJHL) and Ben Beaudoin (Inver Grove Heights, MN, Southern Minnesota, NAHL).
The goal was also Inderieden's second in just as many games, as he sunk a shot against B.J. O'Brien of St. Norbert College last night on a power play opportunity, with assists coming from Justin Brossman (Littleton, CO, Sioux City, USHL), and Beaudoin. Brossman went scoreless against the Pointers, but has still secured his spot as the Falcons leader in points scored this season with 23.
Calleja's assist to Inderieden is of notable importance, as he was the only senior dressed to play for “Senior Night” tonight at Hunt Arena. Calleja was second to Brossman in points scored this season with 20. The only other senior on the Falcons roster is Nolan Craner (Plainwell, MI, Alpena, NAHL), who was unable to participate due to an injury he sustained earlier this season.
Nick Polaski tied the score for the Pointers on a power play chance at 5:26 with his fifth goal of the season following a tripping penalty on Caleb Wolfgram (White Bear Lake, MN, Topeka, NAHL). Polaski was assisted by Brandon Busse and Max Bobrow in what would be the final goal of the evening.
Both teams tallied 14 shots in the third period. The Falcons and Pointers battled vigorously for the puck for the consequent five minute overtime period, but each team was only able to record one shot on goal. Lewan had a game total of 31 saves, while Graves made 34. Both goaltenders were in net for the entire 65 minutes of play.
The Falcon men conclude the regular season with a final record of 11-12-2, going 7-10-1 in NCHA matchups.
River Falls will be on the road as they head to the playoffs to face off against their conference rivals, the Blue Devils of UW- Stout, in a best of three game series starting on the 18th at Dunn County Ice Arena in Menomonie. If each team wins a game this weekend, a 20 minute tie breaker will send the victor to the NCHA Peters Cup Semifinals.
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