The fourth nationally ranked UW-River Falls men's hockey team survived a scare against a one-win Aurora University Spartans team thanks to a late two-goal third period rally vaulting the Falcons to a 4-3 home victory. The win was UWRF's 12th straight, a new program record, previously set in the 1995-1996 season.

The Falcons returned two key, previously injured, players in sophomore forward Christian George and sophomore defenseman Matt Wurst. George scored two goals in his return to the lineup, including a game-tying-goal with under 12 minutes left in regulation.

Falcons sophomore forward Cory Lushanko wristed the game's opening goal past the glove of Spartans freshman goaltender Griffin Strain (0-4) on an early first period 2-on-1 rush with sophomore linemate Mike Fazio. Lushanko found a loose puck at the UWRF blue line and swiftly skated down the right boards before faking a pass to Fazio and shooting a laser into the top corner of the net to put the Falcons ahead 1-0 with 16:15 left in the first. Lushanko's second goal of the season was unassisted.

George doubled the lead to 2-0 on a power play at 7:01 of the first period on a rebound opportunity to the left of Strain. The initial shot was taken by sophomore forward Mike Dietrich, which was turned aside by Strain's left pad, but George cleaned up the trash and stuffed the loose puck behind a sprawling Strain. Dietrich upped his career assist total to five. Freshman defenseman Terry Leabo earned his team-leading eighth assist on the goal.

An odd bounce at the Falcon blue line led to a late Spartans goal with no time left on the clock at the end of the first period. Spartans leading scorer Rihards Marenis picked up a loose puck at the UWRF blue line with two seconds left and walked in on Falcons junior goaltender Tanner Milliron (11-0) and scored five-hole. The lone assist was credited to freshman forward Trevor Hoth, his fifth of the season. Marenis, a Latvian-born forward, now has five goals and 12 total points in 12 games this season. There was some question to whether the goal was scored before the buzzer or whether Marenis was offside when he grabbed the loose puck off a redirection, but the goal stood.

UWRF outshot Aurora 12-10 in the first period. UWRF went 1-2 on the power play, while Aurora went 1-1. Despite allowing two early goals, Strain was very good for the Spartans. Milliron was a bit shaky throughout the first period, leaving rebounds in the slot on numerous occasions.

Spartans sophomore forward Jimmie Perkins tied the game at 13:59 of the second period after a shot missed the net wide right and bounced onto his stick, Perkins then backhanded the puck into a wide open net to the right of a surprised Milliron. The goal was Perkins' fourth of the season. Sophomore defenseman Connor Quinn earned his third assist of the season on the goal.

UWRF outshot Aurora 16-6 in the second period but were unable to beat Strain. The Falcons attempted 31 shots in the second period, but eight were blocked by the Spartan defense. Neither team had a power play chance in the period. Falcons junior captain defenseman Alex Murphy led UWRF with four shots on goal through two periods.

Spartans junior forward Michael Mikulan put Aurora ahead 3-2 on a power play at 7:12 of the third period. Mikulan's goal was a redirection off a Marenis shot. Mikulan's redirection slipped between Milliron's legs and into the back of the net. The stunned Falcon crowd went completely silent after Mikulan's team-leading sixth goal.

George redirected a goal of his own only 105 seconds later on a point shot from Falcons sophomore defenseman Jeff Bergh to tie the contest at three. George's second goal of the game and fifth in five games was also assisted by freshman forward Kyle Gattelaro. Bergh's assist was his seventh and Gattelaro's was his fifth.

Falcons sophomore defenseman Michael Lant scored his first goal of the season with 5:55 left in the third period to put UWRF ahead 4-3. Lushanko fed Lant on the right point and Lant was patient as he let the crowd in the slot screen Strain, Lant then slapped a perfectly placed puck past Strain's glove. Lushanko's assist was his fourth of the season. Sophomore forward Danny Hamburg also earned an assist, his second in a Falcons uniform.

UWRF outshot Aurora 39-27 on the night. UWRF went 1-3 on the power play, while Aurora finished 2-2. Three Falcons led UWRF with four shots on goal. Milliron finished with 24 saves and Strain impressively stopped 35.

UWRF improves to 12-0 overall and 7-0 at home. Aurora falls to 1-10-1 overall and 0-8-1 on the road. Aurora hasn't won since Dec. 5 against St. Mary's University.

The Falcons battle the Spartans at 7:05 p.m. tomorrow at Hunt Arena to cap off the two-game series.

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