STEVENS POINT, Wis. (uwrfsports.com) – The #13 UW-River Falls men's hockey team traveled to Stevens Point Saturday night to take on conference rival, #3 UW-Stevens Pint. The Falcons and Pointers were knotted at 1-1 heading into the third period before a late rally by the Pointers gave the home team a 4-3 victory over UWRF.

The contest between the two WIAC foes proved to be a physical one as the Falcons were whistled for their first penalty just under four minutes into the game. Terry Leabo was called for roughing, sending the Pointers on the power play at the 3:54 mark. But just eight seconds before the Falcons were supposed to be back to full strength, Mike Dietrich slipped a shot past Pointer goalie Max Milosek for the shorthanded goal, putting UWRF up 1-0. Eddie Matsushima was credited with the assist on the goal.

The physical play continued as the two teams racked up five more penalties in the first period. Stevens Point tied the game up at 1-1 at the 16:43 mark, as Logan Lemirande put a shot past Falcon goalie Tanner Milliron for the score.

The Falcons and Pointers carried the 1-1 tie through a silent second period and into the third stanza before the Falcons finally broke the game open. Danny Hamburg scored off a Mike Williams assist at the 1:52 mark of the third period to put UWRF ahead 2-1. Just over two minutes later, teammate Taylor Burden notched a goal for the visitors to give River Falls a 3-1 lead just over four minutes into the third period. Mitch Kontny was credited with the assist on Burden's goal.

The 3-1 UWRF lead proved to be brief, as Stevens Point's Stephan Beauvais knocked home an unassisted goal at the 5:59 mark to cut the lead to 3-2. The Falcons clung to the one goal lead for nearly ten minutes but UWSP's Alex Brooks netted the tying goal off an assist by Lemirande at the 15:42 point of the third stanza.

It appeared that the two teams were headed for OT as the third period drew to an end, but the Pointers would not be denied a final goal. Pointer Alex Kromm found the back of the net with just 14 seconds left to play. Off the assist by B.J. Duffin, Kromm's shot slipped past Milliron for the go ahead goal as Stevens Point took a 4-3 lead in the closing seconds. The Falcons pulled their goalie and fired off a last second shot, but couldn't capitalize as the Pointers skated off with a 4-3 victory.

UWSP held a 39-16 edge in shots and a 32-22 edge in face-offs over the Falcons. Milliron stopped 34 shots, including 15 in the final period, while Stevens Point's Milosek stopped 13 shots on the nights. The Falcons killed off 7 UWSP power plays in the contest.

The Falcons fall to 12-5-3 overall and 3-1-0 in conference play. They return home on Tuesday, January 26, when they play host to Bethel University at Hunt Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m.