Women's Hockey | 11/8/2014 2:11:00 PM
Box Score The UW-River Falls women's hockey team was defeated by an underrated Bethel University team on Saturday, Nov. 8, in Blaine, Minnesota, by a score of 6-3.
The Falcons never quite found a rhythm and trailed much of the way. The Bethel Royals looked rejuvinated after last night's 3-1 loss in River Falls. Goaltending will continue to be an achilles heal for UWRF, but there is no need to panic as Bethel defeated UWRF 5-3 early last season as well. UWRF's best period in its first two games was the third, but the Falcons were outscored 2-0 in the third on Saturday afternoon.
Royals junior defenseman Erin Harper opened the scoring just 2:31 into the contest, beating Falcons freshman goaltender
Angie Hall (2-1). The lone assist was credited to senior forward Lindsay Burman.
Falcons freshman forward
Carly Moran tied the game at one at 6:31 of the first period, just three seconds after a Bethel penalty expired. The goal was Moran's second in three career games. Senior captain defenseman
Sam Greeley and sophomore forward
Karleigh Wolkerstorfer earned the two assists. Greeley's assist was the 24th of her career, while Wolkerstorfer has two assists in three games this season.
Royals freshman defenseman Megan Nickel sent a wrist-shot from the right point through traffic and the puck slipped behind Hall to put Bethel up 2-1. The time of the goal was 13:36. Nickel had pressure from a Falcons forward so she simply flung the puck toward to goal and it had eyes. The puck possibly went off a Falcons defender and in. The assists were credited to freshman forward Briita Nelson and sophomore forward Kathryn Larson. The Royals carried a 2-1 lead into the second period after the Royals' best period of the weekend. Bethel out-shot UWRF 7-6 in the period.
Moran scored her second goal of the game, once again tying the contest at two. The goal came just 5:56 into the second period and was assisted by junior center
Chloe Kinsel. The goal was Moran's third in three career games as a Falcon, and Kinsel upped her assist total to five.
Burman regained the lead for the Royals 1:57 later, putting Bethel ahead 3-2. Junior forward Caroline Kivisto earned the lone assist. Larson scored the game-winning-goal at 13:43 of the second period while shorthanded. Burman and Harper earned assists on the goal, putting Bethel ahead by two, 4-2.
Another Falcons freshman scored to cut the lead in half just 17 seconds later. Forward
Dani Kocina scored the power play goal with an assist to sophomore defenseman
Carina Randazzo. Kocina's goal was her second in three career games, while Randazzo's assist was her first as a Falcon. The Royals led 4-3 after two periods with a 16-11 shot edge.
Burman scored again for Bethel, early in the third period, with an assist to Kivisto. Royals freshman forward Natalie Simons pushed the Bethel lead to 6-3 with 3:23 left in the third. Simons' goal was assisted by senior forward Kalie Johnson and Kivisto. Third period shots were 7-7.
The Royals finished with a 23-18 shot edge. UWRF went 1-4 on the power play, but allowed a shorthanded goal. Bethel went 0-3 on the power play. Hall finished with 17 saves, and Royals freshman goaltender Michelle Klimstra (2-1) made 15 saves. Moran finished with a team-high four shots on goal. Larson finished with seven shots, leading both teams.
UWRF drops to 2-1 overall and 0-1 on the road. Bethel improves to 3-1 overall and 1-0 at home. The Falcons still hold a 15-2-2 all-time record against the Royals, but Bethel has now defeated UWRF in back-to-back seasons.
The Falcons play the UW-Stevens Point Pointers at 7:05 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14, at Hunt Arena. The Pointers currently hold a 22-20-5 all-time series lead. It will be the first WIAC game of the season.
Box ScoreÂ
