Box Score

The Falcon women's hockey team put together a strong effort, but lost a 4-2 decision to Norwich University in a NCAA semifinal playoff game played in Plattsburgh, N. Y., on Friday night.

The Cadets scored two goals in each of the first two periods, but the Falcons didn't give up and scored the final two goals of the contest in a strong team effort.

"We came out slow," said Falcon Coach Joe Cranston after the game. "Give a lot of credit to Norwich for dictating the play. Once we got going we played well."

In the first period NU had the first good opportunity to score when Falcon Brook Story took a penalty at 4:21 for slashing. The Cadets took advantage of the power-play opportunity when Vanessa Champagne beat Falcon goalie, Ashhley Kuechle, at 6:02. It was her fifth goal of the year and she was assisted by Meghan Papagno.

The Falcons almost tied the game about halfway through the period, but the Cadet net was knocked off its moorings just before the puck entered the net. The Falcons put some heavy pressure after that for the next four minutes.

Tori Charron gave Norwich a 2-0 lead at 14:48 when she beat Kuechle with a well-placed wrist shot to the short side. The goal was her 29th of the year and she was assisted by Kayla Parsons. 

The Falcons went on their first power play at 18:28 when Emily MacKinnon took a checking penalty. Once again the Falcons were able to apply pressure and had some good chances to score but the time ran out in the first period without a score.The Falcons had a 10-9 advantage in shots on goal in the first 20 minutes. Katie Batters and Chloe Kinsel led the Falcons with two shots each.

The Cadets went ahead, 3-0, at 2:26 of the second period when Papagno scored with assists to Emily MacKinnon and Kaycie Anderson. It was her ninth goal of the year.

The Falcons went on their second power play at 8:10 when Marie-Philip Guay was called for tripping. Once again the Falcons had some good chances and kept the puck in the Cadet zone for most of the two minutes. But the Cadet defense held strong and the Falcons couldn't score. Seconds later the Falcons orchestrated a great scoring chance but a Kait Mason pass to Batters was stopped with a great save by Cadet goalie Taylor Fairchild.

The Cadets scored their second goal of period to go ahead, 4-0, at 16:53. Nicolette Gosselin scored the goal from right in front of Kuechle and she was assisted by Parsons. Parson carried the puck deep into the zone and took a shot and the rebound went back in front of the Falcon goal where Gosselin was able to bang it home. It was Gosselin's second goal of the season.

The Falcons got on the scoreboard with 48 seconds to play in the period to make it a 4-1 game. Kinsel scored the goal, her 16th of the year, with Batters getting the first assist and Story the second. The goal culminated a nice passing play between the three and gave the Falcons life going into the locker room at the end of the period. Hear WRFW's Chris Liermann on the call. Once again the Falcons had the advantage in shots - 12-9. Batters had four shots and Kinsel three in the second stanza.

The Falcons put together a strong third period with some good scoring chances. Dani Sibley cut the NU lead to 4-2 at 13:41. Mason had a big part in the goal in picking up a loose puck on a turnover and setting up Sibley for the goal. It was Sibley's 15th goal of the year. Hear WRFW's Chris Liermann on the call. The Falcons kept the pressure on for most of the rest of the game and had a 14-9 advantage in shots in the last period. The Falcons led in shots for the game, 36-27.

Fairchild (15-2) finished the game with 34 saves and Kuechle (18-3-3) stopped 23 shots.

The Falcons, now 22-5-3, will play St. Thomas in the game for third place at 3:30 p.m. (ET) on Saturday. St. Thomas lost to Plattsburg, 1-0, in overtime. The two teams have played twice this year with the Falcons winning at St. Thomas, 9-3 and St. Thomas winning in River Falls, 2-1.

"Tomorrow's game is still a big game," said Cranston. "We haven't won a game at the finals and I have a lot of respect for St. Thomas."

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