Willie Hess (Lino Lakes, MN, Fresno, NAHL) and Geoff Shewmake (Chicago, IL, Bradford, GMHL) each had power play goals, but the Falcons gave up two second period goals and could not recover on Friday night at St. Scholastica in a 3-2 loss.
The Falcons have now lost consecutive games for the first time all season and both by one-goal margins.
Scott Lewan (Westland, MI, Alberni Valley, BCHL) started in goal for UWRF and Colin Rundell was the starting goaltender for the Saints.
The Falcons got on the scoreboard first when Hess found the back of the net on the power play at 6:59 in the first period. The goal was Hess' seventh of the season and was assisted by Adam Cardwell (Long Beach, CA, Wichita Falls, NAHL) and George Malliaras (Palos Hills, IL, Texas, NAHL).
The Saints answered back at 12:37 in the first period when Brandon Nowakowski found the twine behind Lewan and tied the game at 1-1.
The second period began with Shewmake scoring his 13th of the year at 3:29 to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead. Blake Huppert (Wasilla, AL, Alaska, NAHL) and Jake Calleja (New Richmond, WI, Wisconsin, MnJHL) assisted the goal.
The Falcons didn't hold the lead for long as Austin Brown tied the game at 2-2 when he scored his fifth of the year on a 5-on-3 power play at 6:22.
St. Scholastica would net the eventual game-winning goal at 14:51 in the second period when Carter Davis beat Lewan to give the Saints a 3-2 lead.
Both teams were held scoreless in the third period as the Saints held on for the 3-2 win
"The first 14 mins of the first period were about best we have played all year, but we got into penalty problems in second and it hurt us," said Coach Steve Freeman, "In the third we had 15 shots and plenty of chances, but couldn't finish."
The Saints outshot the Falcons 11-7 in the first period, 12-6 in the second period, and 33-26 overall. The Falcons outshot the Saints 13-10 in the third period.
Cardwell recorded nine shots in the game. Malliaras and Justin Brossman (Littleton, CO, Sioux City, USHL) both had three shots.
The Falcons finished 2-5 on the power play and a third period mark of 0-2. The Saints were 1-5 on the power play.
Lewan finished with 30 saves, but drops to 12-4-2 overall after the loss. Rundell had 24 saves and improves to 7-5-3 overall.
UWRF falls to 12-4-2 overall and 6-3-2 in NCHA play. St. Scholastica improves to 10-5-3 overall and 5-3-3 in the NCHA.
Game two of the weekend series will be played on Saturday, January 21st at 7 p.m. at St. Scholastica.
Box Score
