RIVER FALLS, Wis. - The No. 4-ranked UW-River Falls women's hockey team fell by a score of 5-3 against No. 5-ranked Gustavus Adolphus College Saturday afternoon at Hunt Arena.
With the Falcons first loss since Nov. 20, 2021, their season ends with a 27-2 overall record, while the Gusties advance to the NCAA Tournament Semifinals.
The Gusties and Falcons traded a pair of leads before three unanswered Gustavus goals led to the 5-3 result.
It took UWRF just over a minute into the game to take a 1-0 lead, as
Maddie McCollins broke through the Gustie defense to score her 19th goal of the season. GAC answered with a pair of unassisted goals, capitalizing on Falcon turnovers to take a 2-1 heading into the first intermission.
In the second period, the Falcons stole back some early momentum, with
Allisen Carothers tying the game at 5:53 with a one-timer from the point off a pass from her defensive partner,
Jessica Rubenalt.
Abigail Stow then scored a few minutes later off a rebound upon a
Callie Hoff shot on net.
After Stow's go-ahead goal, the Gusties scored three unanswered, including two on the power play. Gustavus tied the game on the man advantage not longer after Stow's goal and then added an even-strength tally to put the Falcons on their heals heading into the final 20 minutes, down 4-3.
UWRF held a slim 9-8 edge in shots on goal in the third period, but weren't able to get one past Gustie netminder Katie McCoy, who totaled 28 saves.
The Falcons were in penalty trouble late in the contest, forced to kill off a Gustavus 5-on-3 power play. Not long after one penalty ended, the Gusties scored on the 5-on-4 to take a two-goal lead. UWRF's comeback hopes were then dampened with a major penalty late in regulation.
The 2021-22 Falcons set program records for wins (27), winning percentage (.931), goals (165), assists (258), points (423), shorthanded goals (13), and shutouts (13).
