RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The No. 12-ranked UW-River Falls men's hockey team defeated Gustavus Adolphus College 3-1 Saturday evening at Hunt Arena.
 
The Falcons, coming off a shutout loss against Hamline University last night in which UWRF peppered 37 shots against the Pipers, traded goals with the Gusties in the first two frames before scoring the game-winner in the third and adding a late empty-net goal.
 
Vilho Saariluoma (1g-1a) and Gibb Coady (0g-2a) led the offense with two points each on the night.
 
Saariluoma scored his second goal of the season to put UWRF up 1-0 in the first period, taking a nice feed from Coady and shooting on the backhand past the Gustavus netminder 11:24 into the contest. Josh Martin also was credited with an assist.
 
UWRF got into penalty trouble in the middle stanza, committing four penalties. GAC tied the game at 7:46 of the second period, even strength, before the Falcons turned away three Gustavus power play opportunities, and the score remained knotted at 1-1 heading into the final 20 minutes.
 
Near the midway point of the third period, the Falcons took a 2-1 lead off an Alex Davis goal, who cut to the net from the corner and finished on the backhand. He was assisted by Coady and Saariluoma. Davis' goal stood as the eventual game-winner as the Falcon defense didn't allow any more Gustie goals.
 
Gustavus pulled its goalie after a timeout with a minute and a half remaining in regulation, and Noah Ganske scored an empty-netter to put the game away, 3-1. It was Ganske's second goal of the season, assisted by Sam Anzai.
 
Each team went unsuccessful on the power play throughout the night. The Falcons out-shot the Gusties, 30-21.  
 
Dysen Skinner improved his record to 3-0 in net, logging 20 saves.
 
UW-River Falls, now 4-1-1 overall, opens its WIAC schedule next weekend, beginning with a road game at No. 11-ranked UW-Stevens Point on Friday, Nov. 19.