RIVER FALLS, Wis. — The No. 1-ranked UW-River Falls women's hockey team fell by a score of 3-2 against No. 5-ranked Gustavus Adolphus College Tuesday night at Hunt Arena.
In a game in which the Falcons nearly outshot the Gusties by a 2:1 ratio, the visitors struck on pair of late period goals and sealed the win with another goal in the period. UWRF, now 15-3-2 overall, suffering their first loss of the season at Hunt Arena, held a 38-23 edge in shots on goal with plenty of grade-A chances but couldn't overcome a pair of two-goal deficits, snakebitten by goaltender Lily Timmons and the Gustie defense.
After controlling the play for the majority of the first period, the Falcons committed a costly minor penalty near the end of the frame in which Gustavus capitalized with a power play goal to take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
UWRF again maintained play in the second period, outshooting the Gusties 15-5 in the period, but Gustavus struck again in the final minute of the period to gain a 2-0 advantage.
Katherine Bell got the Falcons on the board just over two minutes into the third period, scoring her NCAA Division III-leading 19th goal of the season off a nice pass from linemate
Madison Lavergne. Minutes later though the Gusties answered with a goal off a rush to earn another two-goal lead.
The Falcons pushed late in regulation, trimming the Gustavus lead to 3-2 with a
Bailey Olson goal and pulling goaltender
Catt Donna with under a minute remaining for the extra attacker, but to no avail.
Donna made 20 saves while making her fourth start of the season in net. UWRF went 0-for-3 on the power play while
Megan Goodreau led the team with six shots on net.
UWRF (15-3-2, 7-0-1 WIAC) heads back into conference play this Saturday, Feb. 1 at UW-Superior.
