SUPERIOR, Wis. — The UW-River Falls men's hockey team skated to a 2-2 draw Friday night at No. 11/13-ranked UW-Superior, winning the shootout to earn two points in the WIAC standings.
The Falcons, now 10-7-1 overall and 4-3-1 during WIAC competition, rallied to force overtime with a
Jonny Meiers power play goal in the third period. After a scoreless overtime, an
Arsenii Smekhnov shootout goal and a trio of
Brennan Boynton saves gave UWRF the two points in the WIAC standings while UWS received one.
A pair of goals were scored in the opening two minutes of the game, with the Yellowjackets opening the scoring just 28 seconds in. UWRF answered quickly though with an
Owen Belisle goal just over a minute later, assisted by Smekhnov.
The Falcons and Yellowjackets then went quiet for the rest of the first period and the second. UWS then gained another lead six minutes into the third. Again, the Falcons responded fast, scoring minutes later as Meiers tallied his eighth of the season, on the power play, forcing overtime. He was assisted by
Tyler Lee.
UWRF was handed a minor penalty late in regulation and killed off a crucial power play which carried into overtime, eventually leading to the draw and UWRF shootout victory.
UW-Superior held a 34-25 edge in shots on goal while faceoffs were deadlocked at 31-31.
Boynton made 32 saves, one shy of his season-high, making his 18th consecutive start of the season.
The Falcons and Yellowjackets wrap up their season series tomorrow night in Superior.
