Box Score

RIVER FALLS, Wis. (uwrfsports.com)-The UW-River Falls Women's hockey team faced off against St. Thomas in a battle of two top ten teams in the country at Hunt Arena on Wednesday night.  The Falcons dominated from the start by getting the game winning goal 20 seconds into the game and shutting out the Tommies 3-0. 
 
The Falcons wasted little time Wednesday night as they scored to go up 1-0 on St. Thomas 20 seconds into the first period.  Chloe Kinsel won a neutral ice face off back to Amy Auran.  Amy crossed into the offensive zone and ripped a slapshot from deep in the slot right past the Tommie goalie.  The goal was Amy's 7^th of the season and Kinsel's 12^th assist of the season.
 
After the goal the Falcons and Tommies settled in to a more defensive game with both teams keeping the other to the outside of the rink and not allowing any pressure or shots towards their goaltender. 
 
At the 11:18 mark of the period the Tommies' Kaylee Druk was called for interference.  The Falcons would pressure early on in the power play creating a couple of quick scoring chances.  With 4 seconds left in the power play senior Dani Buehrer ripped a shot from the point through traffic in front and beat the Tommie goaltender, to put the Falcons up 2-0.  The power play goal was Dani's 2^nd of the season, she was assisted on the goal by Chloe Kinsel, her 13^th of the season and 2^nd of the night. 
 
Over the next five minutes both teams generated some scoring chances, but both goaltenders were up to the test and turned both teams away keeping the score 2-0.
 
At the 4:31 mark of the 1^st period, Lydia Wagner was called for checking and the Tommies went to the power play.  The Falcon penalty killers did a great job keeping the puck to the outside and blocking shots when the Tommies did shoot the puck at the net.  Towards the end of the power play Angie Hall made a great save to keep the Falcons up 2-0. 
 
The Tommies would keep the pressure on late in the period hitting the post on a shot, but the period ended with the Falcons up 2-0.  The Falcons were out shot in the period 6-4 but had a 2 goal lead.
 
The Falcons came out in the second period on fire.  They kep the Tommies in their own zone and generated a couple of really good scoring chances but could not push their lead to 3. 
 
The Falcon defense and goalie Angie Hall would be tested all period by the Tommies. After the intial surge by the Falcons the Tommies answered with numerous shots on and around the Falcon goal but were unable to beat Hall.  The Falcons played good defense and caused multiple shots to go wide of the net as well. 
 
The action really picked up when the Falcons were called for two consecutive penalties around the 14 minute mark of the period.  The first penalty was called at 13:48 against Dani Sibley for slashing.  The second penalty was called at 14:00 on Dani Buehrer for roughing.  The penalties resulted in the Tommies have a 5 on 3 power play fo almost 2 full minutes.
Angie Hall stole the show during the power play, making 4 or 5 great saves to keep the Falcons up 2.  Not to be outdone the Falcon penalty killers blocked their fair share of shots as well during the power play as the Falcons killed off the 2 man advantage without allowing a goal.
 
After the big penalty kill the Falcons went back to the offense and generated a few really good scoring chances before the period ended but could not find the back of the net to go up 3.  The second period ended with the Falcons still leading 2-0.  The Falcons were outshot 15-5 in the second period with Angie Hall stopping all of them.
 
The third period began just like the first two, with the Falcons dominating the Tommies.  The Falcons were in the offensive zone for the first 5 minutes of the period, creating good scoring chances and firing shots at the Tommie net.  The Falcons forced the Tommies to ice the puck and take their timeout before the Tommies could get out of their zone. 
 
Both teams once again settled into a defensive game as the Falcons looked to protect their 2 goal lead.  At 12:51 of the period Karleigh Wolkerstorfer put the Falcons up 3 when she danced around two defensemen and slid the puck right underneath the Tommie goalie.  The goal was Karleigh's 7^th of the season and she was assited on the goal by Dani Sibley, her 12^th assist of the season.
 
After the Falcons went up 3-0, Angie Hall would steal the show again making some great saves down the stretch to keep the Falcons ahead by 3.  The defense in front of her kept the Tommies to the outside and blocked numerous shots before they even got to Hall.  The Falcons had a huge advantage on puck possession time in the third period not allowing St. Thomas to ever get anything going in their offensive end.
 
The third period ended with the #8 Falcons 3 and the #4 Tommies 0.  The win pushed the Falcons record to 15-3-1 while dropping the Tommies to 13-2-1.  Angie Hall had a great night stopping all 31 shots the Tommies threw at her and uppering her season record to 14-3.  The shutout was Angie's third of the season. 
 
The Falcons are back in action at Hunt Arena on Saturday January 30, when they host UW-Superior.  Puck drop is set for 2:05pm.