Box Score

Junior forward's Willie Hess and Blake Huppert carried the UWRF Falcons men's hockey team to a 5-1 conference home win over UW-Superior on Friday night at Hunt Arena.

Hess and Huppert each compiled two goals and two assists as their line skated circles around the Yellowjackets all evening.

UWRF stayed unbeaten at home and won their fourth consecutive game with the victory.

The Falcons opened the scoring just 1:32 into the first period as Huppert split two defensemen, and roofed his third goal of the season over the glove of Yellowjackets junior goaltender Dayn Belfour (2-2). Huppert was fed beautifully by Hess on the play. Hear the call by WRFW's Chris Liermann.

Freshman forward Ryan Doner was also credited with an assist on the opening goal, his team-leading sixth assist of the season. Hess' assist was his second of the season and 15th of his career.

The Falcons widened the lead to 2-0 as Hess buried a power-play goal past Belfour on a one-timer at 10:19. The goal was Hess' team-leading seventh goal of the season. Huppert fed Hess with a nifty centering pass, which Hess fired into a gaping net. Hear the call by WRFW's Chris Liermann.

Senior defenseman Jeff Burke earned the second assist on the power play tally, his fifth assist of the year. Huppert's assist was his fourth of the season.

Superior had a golden opportunity to get back into the contest with back-to-back power plays late in the first period, but Falcons sophomore goaltender Tanner Milliron (2-0-1) held the Yellowjackets off the board with five very difficult saves in a row.

Milliron's solid goaltending led to back-to-back goals from Hess and sophomore forward Zach Schrotenboer, just 44 seconds apart.

Hess' second goal of the game was a highlight real shorthanded marker, which came at 18:02. Huppert stole a weak pass in the defensive zone, fed Hess, who bypassed the defense, and deked Belfour for the goal. The goal was Hess' team-leading eighth goal of the season. Hear the call by WRFW's Chris Liermann.

Schrotenboer's third goal of the season came in transition as he rocketed a one-timer by Belfour on the fly. Schrotenboer was fed precisely by freshman forward Taylor Burden; time of the goal was at 18:46 and pushed UWRF's lead to four. Burden's assist was his sixth of the year. Hear the call by WRFW's Chris Liermann.

First period shots were 10-8 in favor of UWRF. Superior's first shot on goal came over seven minutes into the period.

Midway through the second period the Yellowjackets finally capitalized on their sixth power play of the game at 10:23, cutting the deficit to 4-1, as senior forward Michael Rey beat Milliron blocker side with a redirection. Junior forward Cody Hotchkin and senior defenseman Jeff Forsythe assisted Rey's third goal of the season.

Superior senior goaltender Drew Strandberg relieved Belfour at the start of the second period, and made several key saves that kept the Yellowjackets momentarily within striking distance. Most notably, Strandberg robbed senior forward Alec Hagaman twice on an early third period power play. Hagaman appeared to have an open net, but Strandberg worked his magic.

Shots on goal in the second period were 10-4, in favor of Superior. The Yellowjackets were able to find a rhythm thanks to multiple second period power play opportunities. They sustained pressure in the Falcons defensive zone for the first time all evening. Luckily for UWRF the Yellowjackets only tallied one goal in the frame.

Milliron stole the show in the third period with four game-changing saves in a 30 second span, midway through the period. He made use of his glove, pads, blocker and chest as Forsythe, freshman forward Anton Svensson, freshman forward Jordan Shockley, and senior forward Andy Singerhouse were all turned aside in dramatic fashion.

UWRF made it 5-1 at 11:39 of the third period with a breakaway goal from Huppert, who beat Sandstrom five-hole. Hess sent Huppert in all alone with a long range pass through two defenders. Hear the call by WRFW's Chris Liermann.

Huppert's tally was his second of the game and fourth of the season, giving him four points on the evening. The assist gave Hess a four point night as well, pushing his season point total to 11. Hess now has nine points in four home games this season.

The Yellowjackets outshot UWRF 29-25 for the contest, giving Milliron 28 saves on the night.

UWRF's power play finished the night 1-7, while Superior went 1-9.

UWRF is now 6-1-1 overall, 3-0-1 on the road and 2-0 in WIAC play.

With the win, UWRF leads the all-time series against Superior 67-56-12.

The Falcons travel to Saint John's University Thursday night for their next contest. The puck drops at 7 p.m., in St. Cloud, Minn.

Box Score