Stevens Point, Wis. (uwrfsports.com) – The UW-River Falls men's hockey team traveled to take on UW-Stevens Point in game 2 of a WIAC Tournament Semifinal series on Saturday night. The Falcons needed a win to extend the series, but fell 3-2 in a hard-fought game against the Pointers, ending the Falcons' WIAC Tournament run.
 
THE RUNDOWN
Final Score:  UW-River Falls 2, UW-Stevens Point 3. 
Location:  Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Records:  UW-River Falls (8-17-4), UW-Stevens Point (20-4-3)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 

• The Falcons got off to a rough start for the second consecutive game against the Pointers, when Eddie Matsushima was called for hooking just 43 seconds into the game.
• Zach Quinn and the Falcon penalty killers managed to kill off the Pointer power play to keep the game tied at 0.
• The Pointers used the momentum from the early power play and broke the scoreless tie just over 2 minutes after their power play ended when Tanner Karty found the back of the net.
• Shortly after the Pointer goal, the Falcons got a chance on the power play when Baxter Kanter was called for hooking at the 5:27 mark of the period. The Falcons could not take advantage of the power play and still trailed 1-0.
• The Falcons earned another power play a minute later when Luke McElhenie was called for illegal contact to the head. The Falcons generated more offense on their second power play with a couple of shots from Terry Leabo and Charlie Singerhouse getting through to the net, but they could not beat the Pointer goal tender.
• In the second half of the period the Falcons used the momentum from their power plays to control the play and generated some quality scoring chances but could not get the equalizer as the first period ended with the Falcons trailing 1-0.
• The second period began with action at both ends of the ice with both teams getting shots on goal.
• At the 5:19 mark of the period Mitchell Vanderburg was called for holding the stick and the Falcon penalty killers went to work. They held the Pointers to one shot on net on the power play, which Zach Quinn saved easily.
• Four seconds after the Falcons killed off the Pointer power play they earned one of their own when Drew McLean was called for tripping.
• The Falcons could not take advantage of the power play and still trailed 1-0.
• The Pointers pushed their lead to 2 at the 12:28 mark of the period when Tanner Karty found the back of the net for his second goal of the game, to give the Pointers a 2-0 lead.
• The Falcon penalty killers would be called on again late in the period when Terry Leabo was called for clipping at the 16:20 mark of the period. The Falcons once again killed off the Pointer power play and after two periods were down 2-0.
• The Falcons came out flying in the third period desperate to cut into the Pointer lead. Early in the period it appeared they did just that, but Joe Drapluk's shot beat the goaltender but hit the post and bounced out.
• Peter Karavos got the Falcons on the board just over 6 minutes into the period. He was assisted on the goal by Tim Gelatt and Eddie Matsushima. The goal put the Falcons within 1 at 2-1.
• Zach Quinn was called for delay of game at the 7:21 mark of the period and put the Pointers on the power play. The Pointers took advantage of the power play this time when Luke McElhenie found the back of the net to push the lead back to 2, at 3-1.
• Over the next 6 minutes of the period the Falcons pushed hard to get back into the game. Their hard work paid off when they earned a power play at the 14:50 mark of the period when the Pointers were called for hooking.
• The Falcons would generate multiple shots on goal and even force the Pointers to take another penalty at the 16:08 mark of the period.
• At the 17:37 mark of the period the Falcons pulled their goalie for the extra attacker. The Falcon power play ended, but with just 17 seconds left in the game Thomas Clayton found the back of the net to bring the Falcons within 1 at 3-2. He was assisted on the goal by Eddie Matsushima and Aussie Miller.
• The Falcons won the ensuing face off and their last shot was blocked as the Pointers held on for a 3-2 win.
• Zach Quinn made 24 saves in net for the Falcons and Eddie Matsushima had assists on both Falcon goals.

  THE OPPOSITION

• Tanner Karty led the offense for the Pointers with a pair of goals and one assist.
• Connor Ryckman made 21 saves in net for the Pointers.