MENOMONIE, Wis. – The UW-River Falls men's hockey hockey team fell 4-1 Friday evening in the opening game of its WIAC Commissioner's Cup first round matchup at UW-Stout.
After UWRF's
Arsenii Smekhnov scored the game's opening goal just under two minutes into regulation, the Blue Devils scored four unanswered goals for the win.
Smekhnov scored his second of the season with help from fellow freshman
Connor McGrath at 1:49 of the first, and Stout tied the game at 7:42 to knot the game at 1-1 through one period.
A penalty filled second frame featured 10 combined penalties, and the Blue Devils scored a power play goal, the eventual game-winner, a minute into the period. They added another six minutes later, and scored once more for extra insurance in the third.
Stout's goaltender Tyler Masternak turned aside 33 Falcon shots on net as UWRF owned a 34-27 lead in shots on goal.
Dylan Smith led the Falcons with eight shots on goal, a season-high.
Dysen Skinner made 23 saves in net for the Falcons while suffering the loss.
The Falcons and Blue Devils play again tomorrow night in Menomonie. UWRF needs at least a win in regulation and to prevail in the mini-game.
