Box Score


RIVER FALLS, Wis, (uwrfsports.com)- Tanner Milliron recorded his first shutout of the season and Mike Dietrich scored the game winner in the second period as the UW-River Falls men's hockey team (10-4-2) beat Concordia-Moorhead (6-6-1) 1-0 on Saturday night at Hunt Arena.    
 
The first period was a relatively quiet period on the scoreboard as the period ended how it began with the score tied 0-0.  Both teams played solid defense, blocking shots and keeping the attacking team to the outside of the rink.  The Falcons managed to generate a few scoring chances in front of the Cobber goalie, but didn't have any sustained pressure.  The Falcons did manage to get 14 shots through to the Cobber goalie, while holding the Cobbers to only 7 shots. 
 
The second period got off the same start as the first with both teams playing good defense.  Then at the 3:27 mark the Cobbers Ben Gislason was called for cross-checking and put the Falcons on the power play.  The Falcons managed a few shots on the power play but did not sustain pressure as the Cobbers killed off the penalty. 
 
After the penalty ended the Falcons ramped up pressure in the offensive zone when defensemen Alex Murphy caused a turnover and took the puck to the net where he found Mike Dietrich who beat the Cobber goalie to put the Falcons up 1-0.  It was Dietrich's 3^rd goal of the season.  On the same play Jake Zeleznikar for the Cobbers was called for a slashing penalty, so the Falcons would spend the next 2 minutes on the power play looking to add to their 1 goal lead.  The Falcons didn't get much going on the ensuing power play as the Cobber defense kept the Falcons to the outside. 
 
At the 9:33 mark of the period the Falcons' Dietrich was called for a hooking penalty.  The Cobbers placed very few shots on net during the power play due to the great penalty killing of the Falcons. 
 
At 13:51 Bryan Kronberger for Concordia was called for interference.  The Falcons once again couldn't get anything going on the power play.  The Falcons continued to play smothering defense for the rest of the period allowing only 3 shots on goal for the whole period.  After 2 periods the Falcons led 1-0 and had out shot the Cobbers 25-10. 
 
The beginning of the 3^rd period would test the Falcon defense as well as their goal tender senior Tanner Milliron. At the 1:11 mark of the 3^rd period defensemen Jeff Bergh was called for tripping.  The Falcon penalty killers made easy work of killing the power play with good shot blocking and Tanner Milliron making big save after big save. 
 
Less than 2 minutes after the Falcons killed off the first penalty their bench was called for a too many men on the ice penalty that put the Cobbers back on the power play.  The Falcons again killed the penalty allowing very little pressure by the Cobbers in the offensive end. 
 
For the next ten minutes the two teams swapped scoring chances at either end and the physicality picked up with some big hits by the Falcon defensemen. 
At 13:29 mark of the third period the Falcons would be called for their third penalty of the period when Cory Lushanko was called for boarding.  The Falcon penalty killers and goaltender were up to the challenge again as they killed off their 3^rd straight power play of the period.   
 
The intensity of the game picked up with 1:02 left in the third as the Cobbers pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker.  The Cobbers sustained good pressure and forced Tanner Milliron to make a couple of great saves.  The Falcons cleared the puck and held the Cobbers off the scoreboard for the 1-0 win.  The Falcons ended up out shooting the Cobbers 27-23 despite being out shot 13-2 in the third period.
 
Tanner Milliron's recorded his first shutout of the season and upped his season record to 8-4-2.
 
The Falcons are back in action next Thursday January 14^th at Bethel University.  Puck drop is set for 7pm.