The seventh nationally ranked UW-River Falls women's hockey team clinched its fifth straight regular season conference title with a 5-2 victory over the visiting UW-Superior Yellowjackets on Saturday afternoon in River Falls, Wisconsin, thanks to two Dani Sibley goals.

The Falcons won the 2011, 2012 and 2013 NCHA regular season titles, before winning the 2014 WIAC regular season title last season. UWRF swept the season series against Superior, going 4-0, while outscoring the Yellowjackets 19-6.

"We played well today," said Head Coach Joe Cranston. "We could have scored several more goals but their goalie had a very solid game."

Falcons freshman goaltender Angie Hall (14-3-1) robbed Yellowjackets senior forward Haley Olmstead just two minutes into the contest on an uncontested breakaway. Hall knocked the wrist-shot down with her glove, stopping the puck on the goal line before covering it for a whistle. Olmstead slipped between two Falcon defenders on the play and attempted to deke Hall, and was nearly successful.

Falcons sophomore forward Brianna Breiland opened the scoring with her sixth goal of the season at 4:59 of the first period. Breiland walked in all alone on Yellowjackets freshman goaltender Sky Brown (5-4). Brown made the initial save, but Breiland pounded home the rebound. Breiland was assisted by senior captain forward Alice Cranston and senior defenseman Kendal Evenson. Cranston's assist was her 16th of the season, while Evenson earned her ninth helper of the year. Cranston now has 102 career points in a Falcon uniform.

Falcons freshman forward Carly Moran doubled the UWRF led to 2-0 with a tremendous individual effort at 15:14 of the first period. Moran's 12th goal of the season was scored after streaking out of the left corner and walking around a defender. Moran was tripped while she flipped the puck past Brown's left pad, drawing a penalty on the play. Cranston and junior forward Chloe Kinsel nearly put the Falcons ahead by three on the ensuing power play, but Brown stood tall.

UWRF carried a 2-0 lead after one period. The Falcons outshot Superior 10-6 in the first period. UWRF went 0-2 on the power play in the period. Breiland and Cranston led UWRF with two shots each through one.

Sibley slammed home her 10th goal of the season to put the Falcons up 3-0 at 4:22 of the second period. Moran fed Sibley at the dot and she rifled the puck between Brown's legs for the goal. Moran's assist was her 11th of the season.

Yellowjackets sophomore forward Leah Elledge cut the deficit to two with her third goal of the season at 9:21 of the second period. Elledge was fed by sophomore forward Hailey Adair on a 2-on-1 break, and Elledge wristed the shot between Hall's legs for the goal. Adair's assist was her 14th of the season.

The second period was more of a two-sider affair with strong play by both squads. Hall and Brown were both tremendous in net. UWRF led 3-1 after two periods. UWRF outshot Superior 16-7 in the second. Breiland led both teams with six shots on goal through two. Breiland had a glorious opportunity to make it 4-1 with under two minutes left in the second, but Brown made a stellar left pad save. Both teams went 0-1 on the power play in the period.

Sibley pounced once again as she put the Falcons ahead 4-1 just 77 seconds into the third period. Sibley's 11th goal of the season was scored on a rebound opportunity in the slot. The assists were credited to sophomore forward Karleigh Wolkerstorfer and sophomore defenseman Paige Johnson. Wolkerstorfer bumped her assist total to 10, while Johnson now has 11.

Cranston made it 5-1 with 1:03 left in the third period with an assist to Breiland. Cranston scored on a rebound after she grinded through two defenders.

Superior answered with a goal from junior forward Lynne Larson. Larson deked Hall on a breakaway. Larson's eighth of the season was unassisted. 

Final shots on goal were 41-21 in favor of UWRF. UWRF went 0-5 on the power play, while Superior finished 0-1. Breiland led UWRF with eight shots on goal. Hall made 19 saves, as she continues to improve on a daily basis. Brown stopped 36 shots in the loss.

"I thought [Hall] had a very good game in nets for us," Joe Cranston said.

UWRF is now 17-3-1 overall, 8-1-1 in the WIAC, 9-2 at home, and have won three straight games. In fact, the Falcons haven't lost since Dec. 10. Superior falls to 14-8 overall, 4-6 in the WIAC, 6-4 on the road, and have now lost three straight. UWRF is 29-23-3 all-time against Superior. On a side note, UWRF was wearing its brand new white home uniforms.

The Falcons battle the 10th nationally ranked Lake Forest College Foresters at 3:05 p.m. tomorrow at Hunt Arena.

Box Score