RIVER FALLS, Wis. (uwrfsports.com) – To begin the 2016 hockey season, the UW-River Falls men's hockey team played their first game in recently renovated Hunt Arena against St. Scholastica and lost by a score of 2-1. This was the first time since 2006 the Falcons lost their season opener at home.
 
THE RUNDOWN
Final Score: UWRF 1, St. Scholastica 2
Location: Hunt Arena, River Falls, WI
Records: UW-River Falls (0-1, 0-0 WIAC), St. Scholastica (1-0, 0-0 NCHA)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Falcons started the game with a flurry of shots in the first period. They fired 11 shots on goal, with all shots topped by goalie Peter Megariotis.
• With minimal shots on goal by the Saints, goalie Alex Okicki stopped two shots on goal and kept the score knotted at 0-0 after the first period of play.
• The Saints took the lead in the second period with a power play goal by Steven Phee just 1:54 into the period. A major penalty by UWRF at the end of the first period led to the power play opportunity by the Saints. He was assisted by Brandon Millin and Mark Whiteley.
• The Falcons responded later in the period with Joe Drapluk's first goal of the season at 6:55 in the second period. The goal was assisted by Mike Dietrich and Mitchell Vanderburg.
• The Falcons kept the pressure on in the second period, but just after the end of a Falcon power play, the Saints snatched the lead right back with a goal by Derek Sutliffe at 13:06 in the second period. The goal was assisted by Brett Radford.
• Neither team scored the remainder of the game, the Falcons pulled goalie Alex Okicki with 1:21 on the clock and remained with the one man advantage and fired numerous shots on goal, but couldn't get one in the net.
• The Falcons were led by captain Christian George with 5 shots in the game. He also won eight out of his 14 face offs.
• Kyle Gattelaro totaled four shots in the game for the Falcons. Michael Lant, Eddit Matsushima, and Ryan Doner each had three for UWRF.
• Overall, River Falls won 28 of the 47 face offs in the game. The team had a total of four penalties for 11 minutes in the box. They outshot the Saints 32-15 in the game, and had 10-4 shots in the third period.

 
THE OPPOSITION

• The Saints had three shots each from Phee, Josh Hansen, and Kristofer McKinzie.
• St. Scholastica won 19 of 47 total face offs in the game.
• With five total penalties, they totaled 10 minutes in the box.

 
LOOKING AHEAD
Back in action tomorrow night, the Falcons will take on Northland College at 7:05 p.m. UWRF beat Northland College in their last meeting on the road in 2015 by a score of 5-1.