RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The UW-River Falls men's hockey team scored three first-period goals and never looked back Saturday night, defeating Concordia College 5-0 at Hunt Arena to earn the weekend sweep over the Cobbers while improving to 4-0 on the season.
The Falcons seized control early with a pair of goals less than a minute apart midway through the opening period. Hunter Jones opened the scoring with his first of the season on the doorstep at 6:30 off assists from Tyler Lee and Logan Nagle before Garett Drotts doubled the lead just 54 seconds later on an odd-man-rush with Gavin Middendorf picking up the helper.
UWRF extended its advantage late in the first period on a two-man power play. Alex Atwill buried a shot at the 13:18 mark, finishing a setup from Ben Portner and Keenan Ingram to send the Falcons into the first intermission with a 3-0 lead.
Concordia generated several quality opportunities early in the second period, including an extended five-on-three power play, but the Falcons' penalty kill stood tall and Chris Quizi kept the Cobbers off the board.
UWRF answered with another key goal at 12:47 of the second period when Ingram found the back of the net off a feed from Portner, with his team-leading sixth of the season pushing the lead to 4-0.
The Falcons added one final tally on the power play in the third period. Atwill scored his second goal of the night with 3:25 remaining, finishing assists from Portner and Middendorf for the 5-0 final.
UWRF outshot the Cobbers 41-30, won 45 of 66 faceoffs, and converted on two of four power-play opportunities while holding Concordia Moorhead scoreless on five chances with the extra skater.
Atwill led the Falcons with two goals, while Portner recorded three assists. Ingram added a goal and an assist, and Middendorf finished with two assists.
Quizi stopped all 30 shots he faced to earn his first shutout of the season as the Falcons completed the weekend sweep and remained unbeaten through four games.
The Falcons return to action next Thursday, Nov. 12 at Hamline University.
