Box Score

The #13 nationally ranked UWRF men's hockey team fell 3-0 to the #2 University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Pointers on Friday evening at Hunt Arena despite 24 saves from senior goaltender Scott Lewan.

Pointers freshman forward Lawrence Cornellier scored the game's first goal at 1:39 of the first period on a redirection in traffic that hit Lewan's (6-3) right pad and popped into the back of the net. The initial shot was taken by junior defenseman Kevin Gibson, while the second assist went to junior defenseman Kyle Brodie. The goal was Cornellier's sixth of the season.

Falcons freshman center Christian George nearly found twine a minute following the Cornellier goal. His fast-break shot skipped past Jaeger, but the Pointers defense cleared the puck just in time to keep the score 1-0.

Lewan was required to stay sharp in the early going as Pointers senior forward Kyle Politz worked his way past the Falcons defense and nearly pushed the Pointers lead to two. Falcons freshman center Mitch Kontny later blocked a glorious opportunity for Pointers senior forward Max Bobrow; blocked shots were a theme in the first period as UWRF blocked nine and Stevens Point blocked four.

George was set-up nicely by sophomore forward Zach Schrotenboer with 12 minutes left in the first frame but his redirection was stopped sharply by Pointers junior goaltender Brandon Jaeger (11-1-1). Falcons freshman forward Ryan Doner also had a great opportunity from the slot but his wrist shot was blocked and skipped wide of the net by a Pointers defenseman.

A 4-on-3 power play opportunity for the Pointers nearly broke the game open late in the first period but Lewan was up to the task. Pointers leading scorer Garrett Ladd was stoned by Lewan's pad. Brodie also had two glaring chances from point-blank get denied. Without a stellar Lewan first period performance the Falcons' hole would have likely been larger than one. Brodie had three shots in the first period.

A late Falcons power play generated scoring chances but Jaeger fought through heavy traffic to make the necessary stops on senior defenseman Jeff Burke and freshman defenseman Jeff Bergh.

The first was a hard-hitting opening frame with loads of blocked shots throughout. First period shots on goal were 11-7, in favor of Stevens Point. The Pointers attempted 26 shots in the first, while the Falcons shot 12.

Pointers sophomore forward Alex Kromm opened the second period with a shot off the post less than a minute in. The puck had no chance of finding the back of the net as it sailed wide after hitting iron.

George had yet another chance on an early second period power play that was turned aside by Jaeger's left pad. Falcons senior forward Alec Hagaman and freshman defenseman Matt Wurst both had close calls on the same power play, but the Pointers dodged the bullets.

The Pointers nearly scored on numerous occasions early in the period on their well-oiled power play. Senior forward Kyle Heck, sophomore forward Nick D'Avolio and Ladd nearly scored from in-tight. Ladd's opportunity rang off the far post late in the power play.

Back-to-back power plays wore out the Falcons as D'Avolio pushed the Stevens Point lead to 2-0 at 9:05 of the second period. The power play marker was pretty as D'Avolio tipped a fantastic Drew Graves pass behind Lewan for the goal. Heck also assisted D'Avolio's seventh goal of the second.

Doner nearly cut the gap in half midway through the period with a wrist shot that soared past Jaeger, but, again, the puck slid by the empty cage and wide.

Two late Falcons power plays yielded no results as they could not find a rhythm. A last second chance by freshman forward Cory Lushanko could have made things awfully interesting heading into the third period, but Jaeger held his ground.

The Pointers carried a 2-0 lead into the second intermission and an 18-15 edge in shots on goal. Second period shots were 8-7, in favor of the Falcons. The Pointers blocked six Falcons shots in the second. Lushanko's three shots led UWRF through two periods; his hard work on the penalty kill was noticeable throughout the contest.

The Falcons needed a solid start to the third period but failed to get the ball rolling. The Pointers eventually pushed their lead to 3-0 thanks to a Kyle Sharkey power play goal at 2:47 of the third period. His sixth goal of the season was assisted by Brodie. Sharkey burned by the Falcons defense after a center ice turnover and roofed a backhander past Lewan's glove.

The third period finished rather uneventful as the Falcons attempted to make up ground. The Pointers kept everything to the outside and Jaeger made each save look elementary. The Pointers offense was held in check for most of the period. Lewan continued to make strong acrobatic saves in an effort to keep the game close; a late save on sophomore forward Joe Kalisz clearly showcased his capabilities.

A late 4-on-3 chance for UWRF was not capitalized on as a Burke point shot slipped between Jaeger's pads but stopped short of the goal-line. Final shots on goal were 27-23, in favor of the Pointers. Third period shots on goal were 9-8, also in favor of the Pointers.

Jaeger's shutout was his third of the season. Brodie and Lushanko led both squads with four shots on goal.

UWRF is now 0-3-1 in their last four games.

The Falcons power play struggled all evening, finishing 0-8. The Pointers, meanwhile, went 2-6 with the extra attacker.

UWRF fell to 9-4-2 overall, 2-1 in WIAC play and 3-2-2 at home. The Pointers improved to 13-1-1 overall, 2-1 in WIAC play and 6-0 on the road. UWRF still leads to all-time series 63-49-8.

The Falcons once again square off against the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Pointers tomorrow evening at 7:05 p.m.

Box Score