Box Score The 13th nationally ranked UWRF men's hockey team quickly erased the memory of last night's 8-3 defeat to the 7th ranked University of Eau-Claire Blugolds to bounce back and defeat those same Blugolds 3-1 on Saturday evening.
It's not often a team bounces back after allowing eight goals in 60 minutes of play, but UWRF did just that, and gracefully so. Senior goaltender
Scott Lewan (7-3) played a mammoth role in his team's road victory, stopping 30 of 31 shots. Falcons freshman forward
Ryan Doner led the offensive charge, scoring a late third period goal, as well as assisting the game-winning goal.
Blugolds senior defenseman David Donnellan picked up where he left off on Friday evening with an early goal, just 7:03 into the contest. Donnellan's eighth goal of the season was assisted by sophomore defenseman Jeff Pauluk and freshman forward David Henry.
The goal could have flattened the Falcons' spirits, but they were soon lifted by
Blake Huppert's power play goal 1:54 later. Huppert's seventh goal of the year could not have come at a better time, as his goal set the tone for the rest of the contest. He was setup beautifully by captain senior defenseman
Jon Schreiner. Schreiner's assist was his second of the season.
UW-Eau Claire carried a 14-7 edge in shots on goal after the first period, but the score was locked at one.
An early second period power play goal from freshman defenseman
Jeff Bergh put the Falcons on top 2-1, just 4:51 into the period. His second goal of the season was assisted by Doner and freshman forward
Christian George. George's assist ties him with senior defenseman
Jeff Burke for the team lead with nine, while Doner upped his total to eight (good for third on the team). Bergh's shot came from the point as the puck found its way through traffic and past Blugolds sophomore goaltender Tyler Green (7-4).
The Falcons held on tight to their one goal lead heading into the third period. The second period shots on goal were 10-9, in favor of UWRF.
The third period was rather uneventful, just as the Falcons intended. Doner eventually put the game out of reach with his fifth goal of the season at 17:23 of the third period. The Blugolds were beginning to press, which led to a turnover and a Falcons goal. Doner was assisted by junior forward
Willie Hess and freshman forward
Mitch Kontny. Hess' assist pushed his season point total to 14, tying him with Huppert. Kontny's assist was his fourth of the season.
Lewan helped his Falcons with eight third period saves, giving him a total of 30. The final shots on goal were 31-21, in favor of the Blugolds.
The Falcons finally found an identity on the power play, scoring on 2 of 7 chances. The Blugolds were 0-6 with the extra attacker.
UWRF is now 91-36-4 all-time against UW-Eau Claire.
The Falcons improved to 11-5-2 overall, 4-2 in the WIAC and 7-3 on the road. UW-Eau Claire dropped to 12-4-1 overall, 1-2-1 in the WIAC, 7-3 at home and lost their first game since Dec. 6.
The Falcons travel to take on the University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets Friday evening for a weekend series in Superior, Wis. The puck drops at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
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