RIVER FALLS, Wis. - The UW-River Falls men's hockey team defeated Hamline University 6-3 Thursday evening at Hunt Arena.
The Falcons improve to 2-0 overall on the season and will remain at home this Saturday hosting another MIAC opponent in Gustavus Adolphus College.
UWRF received goals from six different Falcons, including three-point nights from
Reid Lune (one goal, two assists) and
Owen Belisle (three assists). In addition,
Anthony Biniaris had two assists.
In the first period, Hamline got on the board early, scoring on its first shot attempt under two minutes into regulation. The Piper lead was quickly wiped away though as the Falcons scored twice in the next six minutes with goals to claim their first lead of the night, and score another at the 12-minute mark to lead 3-1 heading into the first intermission.
Under four minutes into the game,
Dylan Smith tied the game at 1-1 as he surprised Hamline netminder Maximillian Haselbacher with a shot from the corner, his first goal of the season. It didn't take long for UWRF to add another as an
Aidan Torres shot from the point just under the seven-minute mark saw its way through a screened Hamline goaltender, giving UWRF a 2-1 advantage.
Reid Lune then scored his second goal of the season to put the Falcons up by two goals.
Just past the midway point of regulation,
Jonny Meiers extended the Falcon lead to 4-1 with a great individual effort, streaking down the left wing and roofing one past the glove of Haselbacher and UWRF carried the three-goal lead into the final 20 minutes.
A busy third period featured four goals, two from each team. The Falcons and Pipers went back and forth as Hamline cut the Falcon lead to 4-2 with a power play goal early in the third period, pouncing on a rebound. UWRF answered with a
Burke Simpson goal but Hamline then responded just 13 seconds late to again come within two goals, down 5-3.
With just over two minutes left in regulation, Hamline pulled its goalie and the Falcons capitalized with an empty net goal as
Ethan Lindahl scored to put the game out of reach, his first goal as a Falcon.
UWRF went 0-for-3 on the power play with Pipers were 1-for-2. The Falcons held a 40-19 lead in shots on goal, led by six from
Jonny Meiers.
Brennan Boynton made his second start in a row in net and picked up the win with 16 saves.
