RIVER FALLS, Wis. — The UW-River Falls men's hockey team picked up its second WIAC win on the weekend with a 5-2 win over UW-Eau Claire Saturday evening at Hunt Arena.
After opening the conference schedule with two losses, the Falcons bounced back this weekend with wins over UW-Superior and UW-Eau Claire to improve to 6-4 overall and 2-2 in the WIAC.
UWRF scored goals in all three periods, including a three-goal first period the included the eventual game-winner by
Dylan Smith, a power play goal. The Blugolds outshot the Falcons 45-24, but the Falcon defense stood tall, led by
Brennan Boynton's career-high 43 saves.
A busy first period featured five goals, leading to a 3-2 Falcon lead through 20 minutes. It took the Falcons just over a minute into the game to take the lead, as
Luke Margenau scored his second goal in as many days off a 3-on-2 rush. The Falcons then jumped out to a 3-0 lead with season firsts from
Ethan Lindahl and
Dylan Smith. Lindahl scored at 10:37 and soon after, Smith scored on the power play with a one-timer slap shot.
The Blugolds halted the Falcons' momentum through with two goals in the next two minutes to trim the Falcon lead to one, but UWRF shut out the visitors for the rest of regulation.
UWRF extended its lead to 4-2 in the middle frame, with
Keenan Ingram scoring his team-leading 10
th goal of the season, and the Falcons carried the two-goal margin into the final period. Just 49 seconds into the third,
Max Collette pounced on a rebound for his second goal of the season, pushing the Falcon lead to 5-2, where it stood for the rest of the night.
UWRF went 1-for-1 on the power play, and turned aside all three Blugold man advantages.
The Falcons (6-4, 2-2 WIAC) close out the 2025 calendar year of their schedule next weekend with a home and home series against WIAC foe UW-Stout.
