Box Score

EAU CLAIRE, Wis.(uwrfsports.com)-  The UW-River Falls Women's hockey team finished their regular season as they traveled to take on UW-Eau Claire in a WIAC playoff preview Saturday afternoon.  The Carly Moran scored 15 seconds into the first period for the Falcons and they never looked back as they took a 3-2 victory over Eau Claire. 
 
The Falcons came out on fire in the first period, Saturday afternoon.  Carly Moran took a pass from Chloe Kinsel and buried it into the back of the net just 15 seconds into the first period.  The goal was Carly's 19^th goal of the season.  Carly has now scored 4 goals in her last three games.
 
After the goal the Falcons dominated the next couple of minutes firing 5 shots on goal, but could not get their second goal of the game.  The extended pressure in the offensive zone paid off at the 2:24 mark of the 1^st period when Eau Claire was called for a roughing penalty.
 
On the ensuing Falcon power play, the Falcons got a few shots on net but could not push their lead to 2.  After the power play both teams settled in and created scoring chances over the next 10 mintues, but good defense and shot blocking by both teams kept the score at 1-0. 
 
The Falcons would get an opportunity to add to their lead before the period ended, when Mariah Czech was called for checking at the 19:06 mark.  The Falcons would end the first period on a power play and generate a couple of scoring chances, but could not get the puck past the Eau Claire netminder. The period ened with the Falcons up 1-0.  The Falcons out shot the Blugolds 10-8 in the first period. 
 
The second period began with the Falcons having a 1:04 left on their carry over power play from the first period.  The Falcons once again would strike very quickly at the beginning of a period.  24 seconds into the second period Dani Sibley would find the back of the net to put the Falcons up 2-0.  She was assisted on the power play goal by Karleigh Wolkerstorfer.
 
The Falcons would only be able to keep the 2 goal lead for 3 minutes as the Blugolds would strike at the 3:31 mark of the period when Holly Turnbull found the back of the net to bring the Blugolds within 1.
 
The Blugolds would strike 1:26 later to tie the game at 2.  Paige Dale found the back of the net with another even strength goal as the Falcons saw their 2 goal lead disappear.
 
After the game was tied both teams once again settled in and played good defense and neither team could pull ahead.  It looked like the Falcons would take a 1 goal lead late in the period when Karleigh Wolkerstorfer's shot hit the post and bounced out.  The second period ended with the score tied at 2.  The Falcons out shot Eau Claire again 11-8 in the period and 21-16 thru 2 periods. 
 
The Falcons were not able to match their third period start with the two previous periods, scoring early goals.  It was the Blugolds that looked to score an early goal when Mariah Czech's shot hit the post and bounced out, keeping the score tied at 2. 
 
After the Blugolds hit the post, the Falcons sustained some pressure in the offensive end, but could not get the puck past Eau Claire netminder Paige Turner.  The extended pressure did lead to the Blugolds being called for holding at the 5:19 mark of the period. 
 
The Falcons would pressure early on the ensuing power play, firing a couple of shots at the Eau Claire net, but the Falcon power play would be cut short when at the 6:30 mark of the period Amy Auran was called for high sticking.  There would be 4 on 4 hockey for the next 49 seconds.  After the 4 on 4 the Blugolds would go on an abbreveated power play.  Angie Hall made a couple of big saves on the power play, and the Falcon penalty killers blocked a few shots to keep the score tied at 2.
 
Towards the end of the power play, both teams were called for penalties in front of the Falcon net.  Carina Randazzo for the Falcons was called for cross checking and Kelly Knetter was called for roughing at the 8:27 mark of the period. 
 
The Falcons would take advantage of the open ice during the 4 on 4, at the 10:18 mark of the period Senior Dani Buehrer would fire a shot and find the back of the net.  The goal put the Falcons up 3-2 and it was Dani's 3^rd goal of the season.
 
After the goal, both teams would generate scoring chances at both ends, but neither team could get the next goal.  The Blugolds would get a great chance to tie the game up when they went on a power play at the 16:10 mark of the period when Victoria Holman was called for holding.
 
The Blugold power play would generate 1 shot on goal, before it was cut short at the 17:00 mark of the period because Holly Turnbull was called for checking.  The next 1:10 of 4 on 4 hockey, the Falcons would generate a couple of shots on goal but could not increase their lead. 
 
The Falcons would go on a 5 on 3 power play for 22 seconds when Jaedyn Walz was called for tripping at the 18:38 mark of the period.  With the two man advantage the Falcons looked to put the game away, but could not get another goal.  The Falcons ended the game on the power play, content to run the clock out and get the win. 
 
Angie Hall would finish with 19 saves for the win.  The win pushes the Falcons' record to 19-5-1 overall and 9-3 in the WIAC.
 
The Falcons are back in action on Friday February 26, when they host UW-Eau Claire in the first round of the WIAC Playoffs.  Puck drop is set for 3:05pm.