RIVER FALLS, Wis. — The UW-River Falls men's hockey team defeated Saint Mary's University 6-4 Saturday evening at Hunt Arena.
UWRF, now 8-8-1 overall, used contributions throughout the lineup and goals in each period to earn the victory, led by a hat-trick from junior forward
Jonny Meiers, the second of his career.
The visitors opened the scoring with a power play goal at near the midway points of the first period, but UWRFresponded with a strong finish to the frame as Meiers scored twice in the final five minutes to take a 2‑1 lead after one. Both goals came at even strength as the Falcons tilted the momentum.
UWRF extended its advantage early in the second when Keenan Ingram buried his WIAC-leading 13th of the season. SMU countered with its second power play goal minutes later, closing the margin to 3‑2 through two periods.
Just 39 seconds into the third period, the Falcons created crucial separation as Alex Atwill sprung Gavin Middendorf forward and he finished to give UWRF a 4-2 lead. Just over four minutes into the third, Max Collette pushed the lead to 5-2, which eventually became the game-winning goal before a Saint Mary's rally.
The Cardinals scored twice in the final six minutes, including an extra-attacker goal at 17:28, but the Falcons sealed the win with a Meiers empty-net goal with under a minute left in regulation.
Ingram led UWRF with four points off a goal and three assists while Middendorf and Collette each notched multi‑point performances. Goaltender Brennan Boynton earned the win with 20 saves.
The Falcons head back into WIAC play next weekend, hosting a WIAC two-game series against UW-Superior.
