RIVER FALLS, Wis. - The UW-River Falls men's hockey team closed out its three-game homestand Saturday evening at Hunt Arena with a 3-1 win over Hamline University.
The Falcons' overall record improves to 3-2 overall, bouncing back after a pair of previous losses this week.
Hamline held a slight edge in shots on goal, 33-31. The Falcons led in shots 25-23 after 40 minutes, then held strong through a Piper comeback attempt as the visitors outshot the Falcons 10-6 in the third period.
UWRF got the scoring started late in the first period with
Arsenii Smekhnov scoring his first of the season, deflecting a
Josh Martin shot from the point, and UWRF led 1-0 after one period.
After a scoreless middle frame, early in the third period
Owen Belisle intercepted a Hamline breakout pass and used the defender as a screen with a wrist shot that went past Hamline netminder Trevor Wong for his first of the season and the eventual game-winner. Later in the period, Valetino Passarelli scored his first of the season off a nice passing play from linemates
Vilho Saariluoma and
Sam Anzai.
Hamline pushed strong in the back half of the third period, scoring at 14:24 to trim the Falcon lead to 3-1, then drawing a four-minute power play and pulling its goalie with minutes remaining, but were unable to cut any deeper into the UWRF lead.
Dean Buchholz made his first start of the season in net for the Falcons and had a strong game with 32 saves to earn the win.
UWRF heads back into WIAC play next weekend versus UW-Superior and UW-Eau Claire.
