The sixth nationally ranked UW-River Falls women's hockey team made quick work of the winless UW-Eau Claire Blugolds with a convincing 7-1 win on Friday afternoon thanks to three-point performances from Chloe Kinsel, Alice Cranston and Carly Moran.

"I thought we had a good team effort today," said Falcon Coach Joe Cranston after the contest. "We played three periods and our special teams played very well."

Falcons freshman goaltender Angie Hall (4-2) made her first difficult save of the contest just over five minutes into the first period on a Paige Dale breakaway. Dale, a sophomore, was fed at the top of the circle, all alone, but Hall made the sliding chest save. The Falcons controlled the majority of the early puck possession, but allowed two Blugold odd-man rushes.

Senior captain defenseman Sam Greeley nearly broke the scoreless tie eight minutes into the first period on a wrist-shot from the blue line. Her shot was redirected at the top of the crease but Blugolds junior goaltender Paige Turner (0-5) squeezed the pads just in time as the puck stopped just short of the goal line. The Falcons outshot the Blugolds 10-2 in the first 10 minutes of the game.

Cranston, the senior captain center, had the best chance on game's first power play as her wrist-shot from the right dot slammed into Turner's mask but rebounded into the corner. The Falcons held possession for nearly three straight minutes, and showed good puck movement throughout that span, but UWRF could not find twine.

Kinsel, a junior forward, burned through three Blugolds on a late first period Eau Claire power play but could not capitalize on a breakaway backhand shot as the puck zinged wide right.

Turner made two critical saves on Falcons sophomore defenseman Paige Johnson and Moran, a freshman forward, on a late first period UWRF power play. Johnson tried to go five-hole but Turner closed the door, and Moran tried going upstairs but was stopped by Turner's right shoulder.

Johnson eventually lit the lamp at the tail end of the power play with 16.3 seconds left in the first period. Cranston sent a cross-crease pass to an open Johnson, who slapped the puck into the gaping net. The goal was Johnson's third of the season, momentarily tying her for the team lead. Cranston's assist was her second of the season. Freshman forward Dani Kocina also earned an assist, her second. The goal was just fourth power play goal of the season for UWRF.

First period shots on goal were an astounding 18-3 in favor of UWRF. Moran led the Falcons with four shots, one better than the entire Bluegolds squad. The Falcons went 1-2 on the power play. The Blugolds blocked eight shot attempts in the opening frame.

Falcons sophomore forward Dani Sibley buried a rebound on backhand shot that slipped between Turner's pads at 4:22 of the second period. The original shot was taken by Moran in the slot. Sibley found the loose puck and jammed it home to double the lead. Sibley's goal was her second of the season, and Moran's assist was the first of her career. Earning the secondary assist was sophomore defenseman Carina Randazzo, her second in a Falcons uniform.

Kocina upped the Falcon lead to 3-0 with her fourth goal of the season at 6:26 of the second period. Kocina's goal came after a strong shift by UWRF's top line. Kinsel assisted on the goal for her team-leading sixth assist. Greeley was credited with the secondary assist, her second of the season. The goal came after a Blugolds blocked shot and a nice setup by Kinsel.

The Blugolds capitalized on its second power play of the game with a goal from freshman defenseman Lauren Norgren, the second of her career. Norgren pinched down the right boards and wristed the puck past Hall. Sophomore center Claudia Gagnon and senior defenseman Andi Husted assited on the goal. Both players earned their first assists of the season. The time of the goal was 8:44 of the second period.

Falcons junior defenseman Dani Buehrer slapped home a power play goal past Turner's blocker with 5:47 left the second period to put UWRF ahead 4-1. The slap shot was perfectly placed just inside the left post. Buehrer doubled her goal output with her second of the season. Moran earned her second assist of the game on the play.

The Falcons dominated the second period, outshooting Eau Claire 19-1. Unfortunately for UWRF, the Blugolds scored on its only shot of the period. Falcons sophomore forward Brianna Breiland led UWRF with seven shots on goal through two periods. Shots through two periods were 37-4.

Kinsel and Randazzo both hit the post in the first four minutes of the third period. Soon after, Turner made a tremendous stop on Sibley in the slot as she sprawled to her left to snag a quick wrister from Sibley.

Kinsel redirected a Cranston backhand into the back of net for her fourth goal of the season at 9:45 of the third period. Cranston took the initial shot from the right slot and Kinsel tapped the puck in from the left post. Cranston's assist was her second of the game.

Sophomore forward Karleigh Wolkerstorfer popped in her second goal of the season from the left dot at 10:16 of the third period. Her wrist shot was redirected by a Blugolds defender and past the glove of Blugolds junior goaltender Kim Van Brunt, who entered the game in relief of Turner. Moran earned her third assist of the game on the goal and Sibley was credited with the secondary assist.

Kinsel beautifully redirected a Cranston point shot past Van Brunt's left pad for her second goal of the period and team-leading fifth of the season, this time at 12:07 of the third period. Cranston's assist was number three on the afternoon. The goal was UWRF's third in less than three minutes.

The Falcons outshot Eau Claire 55-10 on the afternoon. UWRF went 2-3 on the power play, while the Blugolds finished 1-4. Breiland led UWRF with nine shots on goal, while Sibley added seven. Hall made six saves and freshman goaltender Kylie Hommerding made three saves in the third period. Turner made 42 saves on 47 shots and Van Brunt stopped five of seven.

UWRF improves to 4-2 overall, 2-1 in the WIAC, and 4-1 at home. Eau Claire drops to 0-7 overall, 0-2 in the WIAC, and 0-4 on the road. UWRF is now 41-5-8 all-time against the Blugolds.

The Falcons take on the Blugolds in Eau Claire at 2 p.m. tomorrow to polish off the two-game series.

Box Score