George Malliaras scored the go-ahead goal in the first game and Jake Calleja scored the eventual game-winner in the mini game as the Falcon men's hockey team advanced to the NCHA semifinals on Saturday night in Stevens Point.

The Falcons came into the game down two points in a race to three point NCHA first round series against Stevens Point. A 4-1 regulation win forced a mini game to decide the third point and the Falcons answered the call with a 3-1 victory to advance.

Stevens Point would begin right where they left off as they scored an early first period goal. Garret Ladd connected to put the Pointers up 1-0 at 2:47 in the first period.

The lead would last until late in the first period when Alec Hagaman scored unassisted to tie the game at 1-1.

The Falcons would outshoot the Pointers, 15-6, in the second period and take the lead with three goals.

Malliaras scored the first of the period on the power play, at 6:20, to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead. Calleja and Blake Huppert were credited with assists on the goal.

At 10:17, Bill Simon would pad the lead with an even strength goal to put the Falcons up 2-1. Zach Schrotenboer and Sean Roadhouse recorded assists.

Geoff Shewmake would cap the Falcons 4-1 win with a power play goal, at 18:30, forcing a mini game for the third and final point of the series.

The Falcons struck first in the mini game when Shewmake scored at 6:08. Calleja was given an assist on the goal that gave the Falcons momentum.

The lead would not last, however, as Kyle Heck tied the game for Stevens Point at 12:06. The Pointers would also go on the power play just 8 seconds later, but weren't able to score.

With time ticking away in the mini game, at 19:30, Hagaman found Calleja and he scored to put the Falcons up 2-1.

Bill Simon then added one more tally with an empty net goal, at 19:44, to cap the Falcons 3-1 win in the mini game and send the Falcons to the NCHA semifinals next weekend.

The Falcons improve to 13-10-4 overall and 5-9-4 in the NCHA. The Pointers fall to 15-11-1 overall and 8-9-1 in the NCHA.

UWRF will now travel to UW-Eau Claire to take on the Blugolds in the NCHA semifinals on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m.

Box Score