Men's Hockey | 11/6/2014 5:44:00 PM
Box Score Falcons junior captain defenseman
Alex Murphy played the best game of his collegiate career, scoring a natural hat-trick in a season-opening 4-3 road victory over the Concordia-Moorhead Cobbers (1-2) on Thursday, Nov. 6.
After scoring just two goals and five points in his first 42 games in a Falcons uniform, Murphy improbably soared to the rescue, scoring not once, not twice, but three times in a row for UW-River Falls (1-0). His first two goals only gave the Falcons a momentary lead, but the final late tally finally sealed the deal. The Falcons finished the evening 2-2 on the power play, and, of course, both goals were banged home by Murphy.
"The power play was really clicking and was the difference," said Falcon Coach
Steve Freeman. "In a first game I expected mistakes, but also some sharp plays. We were pushed so it was a valuable first step. We just have to keep working and learning. It's fun to be back at it."
Sophomore forward
Cory Lushanko scored the season's first goal for UWRF just 4:54 into the first period with assists to sophomore center
Mike Fazio and junior forward
Mike Williams. Lushanko's goal was also the team's first shot on goal of the season, and his fourth career tally. Fazio's assist was the third of his career, while Williams bumped his career assist total to six. Lushanko's goal beat Cobbers sophomore goaltender Jordyn Kaufer (1-2).
Falcons junior goaltender
Tanner Milliron (1-0) shut down the first Cobbers power play of the contest, making three saves on the kill. Milliron stonewalled Cobbers sophomore forward Jeremy Johnson, making two saves from in-tight. Concordia-Moorhead opened the period with a 10-3 shot advantage but Milliron looked strong early on, which is not surprising after his solid 4-2-3 campaign in 2013-2014.
The first period, which was controlled by the home Cobbers, ended with a 1-0 Falcons lead. Concordia-Moorhead out-shot UWRF 11-4. Three Cobbers had two shots in the period, while four different Falcons hit the net. The Cobbers had the only power play, and the Falcons won the face-off battle 12-9.
The Falcons opened the second period with a 5-2 shot advantage but Kaufer started to get a good feel for the game. UWRF killed another penalty early in the second. The Falcons received its first power play of the season 8:51 into the second period, but the Cobbers scored a shorthanded goal on the man-advantage. Cobbers senior forward Andrew Deters tied the contest at the 10:05 mark with an assist to junior forward Jordie Bancroft.
But Murphy quickly answered the Cobbers' tally with a power play goal at 10:46 of the second period, his third career goal. Freshman defenseman
Terry Leabo (Fargo, N.D.) and sophomore forward
Ryan Doner were credited with the assists. Doner's assist was the 13th of his career, while Leabo's tally was his first collegiate point.
Cobbers freshman forward Jon Grebosky tied the contest once again with his first collegiate goal at 15:00 of the second period. Grebosky, arguable the Cobbers' best player on Thursday night, finally beat Milliron with his fourth shot of the game. Johnson was credited with the lone assist.
Murphy, yet again, answered the call with his second goal of the period at the 16:20 mark. Murphy, who has been moved back to the point for the 2014-2015 season, has matched his career goal total in one period to start the year, giving him four career goals in 43 games. The go-ahead-goal was unassisted.
Back-and-forth we go. Grebosky slammed home another goal, his second goal of the period (and of his career), with 24 seconds left in the second. Freshman forward Zach Doerring and sophomore forward Jordan Christianson earned the assists on the tying goal.
The Falcons out-shot Concordia-Moorhead 12-11 in the second period. The Cobbers won the face-off battle 13-12. UWRF went 1-1 on the power play, while Concordia-Moorhead went 0-1. Both goalies had tough second periods as save percentages were well below 90 percent. Grebosky led Concordia-Moorhead with five shots through two periods, while Falcons freshman forward
Kyle Gattelaro (Delray Beach, Fla.) led UWRF with three.
Both goaltenders, Milliron in particular, played much better in a highly contested third period. But Murphy did it again, scoring his third consecutive Falcon goal for his first career hat-trick on a late UWRF power play. Murphy's natural hat-trick goal, which was also his third go-ahead-goal of the evening, was scored at 15:57 and assisted by sophomore forward
Mike Dietrich and Leabo. Dietrich's assist was his first as a Falcon, while Leabo doubled his career point total.
The Cobbers out-shot UWRF 31-24 on the night. The Falcons were a mere +2 in the face-off circle. Milliron finished with 28 saves, while Kaufer only stopped 20. Doner led UWRF with four shots on goal, and Grebosky finished with five for Concordia-Moorhead.
UWRF is now 12-1 all-time against Concordia-Moorhead. The Falcons split against the Cobbers last season, winning 3-2 in River Falls and losing 2-1 in overtime in Moorhead.
The Falcons travel to St. Paul, Minnesota, on Saturday, Nov. 8, to battle the Hamline University Pipers (1-1). The puck drops at 7 p.m. in Oscar Johnson Arena. UWRF is 18-3-1 all-time against the Pipers.
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