RIVER FALLS, Wis. (uwrfsports.com) - The No. 3 UW-River Falls women's hockey team will make their ninth straight NCAA tournament appearance, and are seeking their fourth straight appearance in the Frozen Four on Friday when they take on Gustavus Adolphus (17-6-3, 13-2-3 MIAC).
THE BASICS
Who: UW-River Falls vs Gustavus Adolphus
When: Friday March 10, 7:05 p.m. (CT)
Where: Hunt Arena, River Falls, Wisconsin
Ticket Information: The first 100 students will get into the game for free. The rest will have to pay at the door.
FOLLOW THE GAMES:
LAST TIME OUT:
March 4, O'Brien Cup Championship Game
UW-River Falls 3, UW-Eau Claire 2 - OT
ABOUT UW-RIVER FALLS:
26-2, 7-2
WIAC
UW-River Falls Women's Hockey Website
Falcons Roster
2016-17 Schedule
2016-17 Statistics
IN THE POLLS:
The Falcons are currently ranked No. 3 in the
USCHO.com Division III Women's Poll
The Falcons are currently ranked No. 3 in the
D3hockey.com Women's Top 10 Poll
The Falcons are currently ranked No. 2 in the West region of the
NCAA Regional Rankings
NATIONAL RANKINGS:
- No. 1 in Shorthanded goals at 8
- No. 2 in Team Defense at 1.14 goals allowed per game
- No. 3 (Tied) in Team Offense at 4.36 goals per game
- No. 4 in Power Play at 25-129 (27.1 percent)
- No. 7 in Penalty Killing at 88-98 (89.8 percent)
*According to
USCHO.com Statistics
ABOUT GUSTAVUS:
17-6-3, 13-2-3
MIAC
Gustavus Adolphus Women's Hockey Website
Gusties Roster
2016-17 Schedule
2016-17 Statistics
LAST TIME OUT:
February 25, MIAC Tournament Semifinal
Gustavus Adolphus 2, St. Thomas (MN) 3
IN THE POLLS:
The Gusties are currently ranked No. 10 in the
USCHO.com Division III Women's Poll
The Gusties are currently unranked in the
D3hockey.com Women's Top 10 Poll
The Gusties are currently ranked No. 3 in the West region of the
NCAA Regional Rankings
NATIONAL RANKINGS:
- No. 9 in Team Defense at 1.38 goals allowed per game
- No. 17 in Power Play at 19-101 (18.8 percent)
- No. 22 (Tied) in Shorthanded goals at 2
- No. 24 in Team Offense at 2.5 goals per game
- No. 37 in Penalty Killing at 63-76 (82.9 percent)
*According to
USCHO.com Statistics
OVERALL SERIES
In the
all-time series, the Gusties hold the advantage 19-9-4
LAST MEETING – EARLIER THIS SEASON
UW-River Falls 3, Gustavus Adolphus 0
UW-River Falls 4, Gustavus Adolphus 1
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
UW-River Falls:
#10 Senior forward Dani Sibley – In her four years at UWRF, Sibley has improved the most from her
junior year to her
senior year. She improved her point total from 40 last season, to an NCAA leading 63 points this season. She has broken the
program-record for goals (27), assists (36), and points in a single season.
#8 Junior forward Carly Moran – As a junior, Moran has put up career-high numbers. If not for Sibley's record year, Moran would be the record holder for points in a single season with her 51 points (22 goals, 29 assists). She has the most game winning goals this season (7) and is second in power play goals (7) and shorthanded goals (2).
#5 Senior defenseman Paige Johnson – The Marshfield, Wisconsin native has been solid once again for UWRF. She has the most points for any defenseman in the WIAC (22). Johnson has been named an All-American each of the last two seasons. She is aiming to become one of the five Falcon seniors to be a part of four straight Frozen Fours.
#33 Junior goalie Angie Hall – In her third year as the Falcons full-time goalie, Hall has put together her best season yet. She is tied for the most shutouts in the nation with 8 (
program-record), she is No. 4 in the Nation in goals against average at 1.06 (currently a
program-record), and is No. 10 nationally in minutes played at 1349:26. She holds the
school-record for wins in a career with 65, and is tied for most career appearances at 87.
WIAC All-Conference Teams -- (8 Falcons Selected)
Gustavus Adolphus:
#20 Junior forward Kaitlyn Klein - This season, Klein has arguably had the biggest improvement by any Gustie. She raised her point total from six in 2015-16 to 18 this season. She leads the team in game-winning goals (6), power play goals (5), and goals (10). She was also named first team All-MIAC.
#9 Junior forward Erica Power - Power was also named to the first team All-MIAC team this season. She is tied for a team-high in assists with 10, and has scored two unassisted goals along with one of the Gusties two shorthanded goals this season. She has taken a small step back in total points from 20 a year ago down to 18 this season.
#6 Senior forward Emily Gustafson - Gustafson is one of three Gustie seniors on the roster. She was named an Honorable Mention in the MIAC conference honors. Gustafson made a huge jump in points from just three last season, to 13 this season. She is second on the team in goals, and improved her shot percentage from last season (.053) to this season (.115).
#1 Sophomore goalie Amanda DiNella - In her second year at Gustavus, DiNella started just as many games as she did as a
freshman (16), while improving in almost every statistically category. She drastically dropped her goals against average down to
1.03 this season, which earned her first team All-MIAC honors. She has recorded eight shutouts this season, and has an outstanding save percentage (.942).
MIAC All-Conference Teams
Things to Note about Gustavus:
This season the Gusties are one of the fewest penalized teams in the nation. They have committed just 76 penalties all season for an average of 5.85 which is No. 58 in the nation. Gustavus has scored most of their goals in the second period (29), and scored their fewest in the third period (16). The Gusties have allowed their opponent to score the most goals in the third period (18), and the fewest in the first period (7).
Coaches:
UW-River Falls Coach Joe Cranson:
The 2016-17 WIAC Coach of the Year, Cranston is the only coach in UWRF women's hockey history after beginning the program in 1999. Cranston led the Falcons to their ninth straight 20 win season and holds an overall record of 340-128-38. Cranston is currently third in career wins for any Division III women's hockey coach. He has also been named the national coach of the year runner-up in 2003, 2009 and 2016.
Gustavus Adolphus Head Coach Mike Carroll:
In his 18th season at Gustavus Adolphus, Carroll has built one of the best programs in Division III women's hockey. He has the second most wins by any coach in Division III women's hockey at 376 with an overall record of 376-100-35. Gustavus has now won 13 MIAC regular season titles under Carroll and has been Coach of the Year now seven times. In his life Carroll has also played professional baseball with the Montreal Expos organization for two years.
