Box Score

ST. PAUL, MN-(uwrfsports.com)- The UW-River Falls Men's Hockey team (10-4-3) battled the Bethel Royals (1-10-2) on Thursday night.  A late Falcon goal scored by Eddie Matsushima, took the game into overtime where the game ended in a 2-2 tie.
 
River Falls got down early in the first as Travis Payne for Bethel found the back of the net at the 1:22 mark of the first period. 5 minutes after the Royals scored their first goal Mike Fazio was called for tripping and sent the Royals to the power play.  The Falcon penalty killers made easy work of killing off the power play, but just seconds after the penalty ended the Royals got the puck in the slot and Travis Payne struck for his second goal as he slid a back hand shot through Tanner Milliron to put the Royals up 2-0.    
 
At the 10:30 mark in the first period the Royals were called for Tripping.  The Falcons created some quality scoring chances but could not get the puck past the Bethel goal tender. 
 
The teams battled evenly on both ends of the ice until at the 16:58 mark of the period Cory Lushanko took the puck hard to the net and drew a tripping penalty on the Royals. 
The Falcons once again could not get anything going on the power play, and the first period ended with the Falcons down 2-0.  The shots on goal after the first period were even at 8 a piece.
 
The Falcons started the second period on fire.  They kept the pressure on by keeping the puck in the offensive zone and firing numerous shots on the Royal goaltender.  At the 8:27 mark of the period the Royals were called for interference and it sent the Falcons to a power play.  The Falcons generated some quality scoring chances around the net but could not put one past Jesse Garcis the Royal goaltender.
 
The Falcons continued to keep the pressure on the Royals then at 16:16 in the period they finally got one through when a shot from the point by Christian George found its way through a screen in front and to the back of the net to bring the Falcons within 1.  He was assisted on the goal by Ryan Doner and Jeff Bergh. 
The Falcons continued to pressure the Royals but could not get the equalizer past the Royals goalie.  The period ended with the Falcons down 2-1.  The Falcons outshot the Royals 12-4 in the second period. 
 
The third period started with both teams creating scoring chances and being held off by the defense and goal tenders of each team.  At the 4:35 mark of the third period Mike Williams was called for a slashing penalty and sent the Royals to the power play.  The Falcon penalty killers made easy work of the Royal power play, spending a good portion of the power play in their own offensive zone and only allowing 1 shot on goal.
 
Bethel seemed content throughout the third period to just dump the puck into the Falcons' end and kill as much time as they could trying to preserve their 1 goal lead.
The Falcons kept the puck in the offensive zone for most of the third period generating a number of quality scoring chances, but they could not get the equalizer past Garcia.
 
The Falcons pulled their goalie with over a minute left in the period.  With the help of the extra attacker, the Falcons peppered the Bethel goal tender with numerous shots around the goal but he stopped them all.  With 44 seconds left in the period Garcia held on to a shot from the point and Bethel called their timeout.
The Falcons continued the frezny in front of the net for the next 37 seconds, when the puck squirted loose from a pile of bodies in front onto Eddie Matsushima's stick and he found the back of the net with a wrist shot tying the game at 2 with 7 seconds left in the period.  He was assisted on the goal by Ryan Doner and Kyle Gattelaro.  With the game tied at 2-2 we were headed for over time.
 
The Falcons created a great chance in front of the net early in overtime only to be robbed by a great glove save by Garcia.  The Falcons kept the pressure on and fired many shots just wide of the net in the over time period, but were unable to get the game winner as the game ended in a 2-2 tie.  The Falcons outshot the Royals 35-23 with Tanner Milliron making 21 saves.
 
The Falcons are back in action on Saturday night when they visit Gustavus Adolphus.  Puck drop is set for 7:05pm.