The fourth nationally ranked UW-River Falls women's hockey team defeated the 11th ranked Bethel University Royals 3-1 after yet another strong third period for the Falcons on Friday, Nov. 7.

For the second straight game, UWRF (2-0) needed to win the third period in order to get the W. With the contest tied at one after two periods, UWRF severely outplayed Bethel (2-1) in the third period, scoring two goals less than four minutes apart.

Falcons sophomore forward Dani Sibley had the game's first quality scoring chance as she nearly stuffed a wraparound try between the legs of Royals freshman goaltender Michelle Klimstra (1-1). Moments later, Klimstra had to make back-to-back saves on Falcons sophomore forward Brianna Breiland from the side of the net. Midway through the period, Falcons freshman forward Carly Moran could not capitalize on a point-blank wrist-shot from the slot that Klimstra kicked away with her right pad. The Falcons opened the period with an 8-3 shot advantage.

Senior captain forward Alice Cranston roofed a snap-shot over the glove of Klimstra to break the scoreless tie at 12:24 of the first period for her second goal of the season. Sibley and Breiland were credited with the assists. Sibley flipped the puck toward the goal and it bounced right to Cranston at the right dot before the snipe. Sibley's assist was her second on the short season, while Breiland upped her career assist total to nine. Cranston now has 37 career goals, which places her 11th all-time in program history.

Breiland rang a wrist-shot off the post with just over two minutes left in the first. The shot beat Klimstra, blocker side, but failed to find twine. After allowing four goals in the opening game against St. Thomas, the Falcons refreshingly only allowed five shots in the period. Freshman goaltender Angie Hall (2-0) never had to make a difficult save. Final shots in the first were 11-5 in favor of UWRF with the Falcons going 0-1 on the period's only power play. Sibley and senior defenseman Kendal Evenson led UWRF with two shots each.

Moran was stoned again by Klimstra on a 2-on-1 with line-mate Karleigh Wolkerstorfer. The speedy Moran came screaming down the right boards and wristed a shot into Klimstra's chest protector. The scoring chance came 20 seconds after an early Royals power play. Two minutes later, Sibley had a glorious opportunity from the slot right in front of Klimstra but she quickly gloved the puck, denying Sibley. Bethel had little to no offense in the game's first 29 minutes.

Klimstra made not one but two big stops with 10:51 left in the second period on junior center Chloe Kinsel and Wolkerstorfer. Kinsel took the initial shot, which Klimstra kicked aside with her right pad, and Wolkerstorfer found the rebound and slapped it into Klimstra's blocker.

Royals junior Caroline Kivisto scored her second goal of the season on a mid-second period power play at 13:12 from the top of the right circle on a slap-shot to tie the game at one. Senior forward Lindsay Burman and junior defenseman Erin Harper were credited with the assists. One minute later, on yet another Bethel power play, Kivisto was absolutely robbed by Hall on the right doorstep.

The Falcons looked like the better team in the sloppy second period but Bethel came away with the only goal. UWRF out-shot the Royals 9-6 in the second. The Royals capitalized on one of its three power plays in the period. Kinsel, Moran and Sibley all had three shots through two periods.

Early in the third period, Klimstra made yet another right pad save on sophomore forward Emily Stark after a Paige Johnson shot was kicked into the slot. Klimstra was the difference for the first 43 minutes of the game, stopping 20 of the first 21 shots she faced.

Falcons junior defenseman Dani Buerher scored on her own rebound at 3:43 to put UWRF ahead once again. Buehrer was left alone, high in the slot, after trailing in on a 2-on-2. Her first shot was blockered away but she persevered and slapped the puck over Klimstra's right shoulder. Kinsel was credited with the lone assist, her third of the season. The goal was Buehrer's sixth career tally.

Sibley pushed the lead to two at 6:52 with an assist to Kinsel. Kinsel entered the zone, dropped a pass to Sibley, and Sibley rifled a wrist-shot past Klimstra's blocker and into the back of the net. The goal was Sibley's 16th of her career, while Kinsel pushed her assist total to four.

Hall made her best save of the night on a mid-third period Royals 2-on-1. The shoulder save was made on junior forward Jessica Gapinski.

Klimistra robbed both Moran and Wolkerstorfer after Kinsel mesmerized two defenders with her speed. Kinsel dropped the puck to Moran, who got a point-blank shot kicked away, and Wolkerstorfer found the rebound and slung it for the top right corner of the net but Klimstra gloved it. The Falcons opened the period with a 13-4 shot edge. After a quiet first two periods, Kinsel was beginning to wear down the Bethel defense.

The Falcons nearly made it 4-1 a handful of times on a late third period 5-on-3 power play but two posts and four shots later, the game remained 3-1. UWRF out-shot Bethel 18-4 in the third and 38-15 for the game. Bethel finished 1-4 on the power play, while UWRF went 0-2. Kinsel and Moran had five shots each for the Falcons. Hall made 14 strong saves and Klimstra was fantastic, making 35 saves.

UWRF is now 2-0 at home and Bethel is 1-1 on the road. The two teams split last November with the Falcons winning at Bethel and the Royals winning at UWRF. UWRF is 15-1-2 all-time against Bethel.

The Falcons play the Royals at 2 p.m. tomorrow afternoon in Blaine, Minnesota, to wrap up the home-and-home series.

Box Score