Box Score Ashley Kuechle recorded her seventh shutout of the season for an all-time single season Falcon record in the UW-River Falls Falcons dominate 8-0 win in the first game of the WIAC semi-finals over the UW-Eau Claire Blugolds.
Brianna Breiland scored a hat trick in the game to move up to nine goals on the season. Eleven different Falcons contributed in scoring in the game.
"We played really well both offensively and defensively," said Falcon Coach
Joe Cranston after the game. "We did what we had to do to get the win. It was great for Ashley (Kuechle) to get the shutout and set the record."
Alice Cranston scored the first goal of the game assisted by
Emily Stark and
Paige Johnson at 5:39 of the first period. The goal was Cranston's seventh of the season.
Watch video of the Cranston goal. Johnson had three assists in the game.
Not long after
Chloe Kinsel had an opportunity to score on a one timer but was robbed by Blugold goalie Paige Turner who made a great save on the play. Despite allowing eight goals Turner recorded 39 saves in the game and played all but the last few minutes of the game.
Johnson had another assist at 15:51 of the period for her 13
th of the season when she found
Katie Batters for the backhand goal. The goal was number 16 of the year for Batters.
UWRF put shot after shot on net all game long and finished with 47 compared to just eight for UWEC.
UWRF poured in two more goals in the second period.
Kait Mason scored on a one timer when
Sam Greeley hit her with a great pass putting the puck in right out in front of the net.
Breiland scored her first goal of the game assisted by Batters and
Crysta Lowell at 16:44 of the period. The goal and assist that batters had in the game gives her a team high 29 points on the season.
The Falcons went on a scoring frenzy in the third period adding four more goals. Kinsel scored a power play goal just 5:17 into the period assisted by Johnson and
Allie Olson. Olson had assists on three of the four third period goals.
Breiland was able to get her stick on the puck to tip in a power play goal at 10:16 assisted by Olson and Kinsel. Mason scored the third power play goal of the game for UWRF at 12:35 assisted by
Dani Sibley and Greeley. UWRF went 3-4 on power play opportunities in the game. Mason has 12 goals and 27 points overall on the season.
Breiland capped the afternoon off by getting another tip in goal for the hat trick at 16:40 assisted by Olson and Mason.
The two teams will meet again tomorrow afternoon with the drop of the puck set for 2:05 p.m. If UWRF wins or ties they will advance to the O'Brien Cup championship game. If UWEC wins tomorrow than the two teams will play a 20 minute mini-game right after to determine who moves on.
Box Score
