HANCOCK, Mich. – The UW-River Falls men's hockey team earned a 2-1 at Finlandia University Friday evening during the 2021-22 season opener.

Down 1-0 after the first period, the Falcons rallied with goals in each the second and third period to open the nonconference series with a road win.
 
Physical play led to eight penalties in the first period, five on UWRF. The home team capitalized just under five minutes into the game on the power play, and took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

After spending the majority of play in the Finlandia defensive zone, the Falcons broke the shutout near the midway point of the game, as a rip from the point by Gabe Wahl off a faceoff win by Sam Anzai broke past the Lion netminder to tie the game at 1-1, where the score stood heading into the final frame.

The Falcons sustained their offensive pressure into the third period and at the 10:13 minute mark, Noah Roofe scored the eventual game-winner, assisted by Falcon newcomers Noah Ganske and Alex Davis.

Dean Buchholz earned the win in goal, tallying 14 saves.

UWRF out-shot Finlandia 34-15 and led 42-28 in faceoff wins.

The Falcons and Lions combined for 54 penalty minutes off 21 total penalties. UWRF went 0-for-7 on the man advantage while the Falcon penalty kill limited Finlandia to one power play goal on 11 chances.

Game two and the series finale takes place tomorrow at 4 p.m. eastern time.