EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The UW-River Falls men's hockey team advanced to the WIAC Commissioner's Cup Tournament Championship game for the second consecutive season with a 4-1 semifinal victory over UW-Eau Claire Saturday night at Hobbs Ice Center.
With the win, the Falcons improved to 14-11-1 on the season, advancing to the WIAC Tournament title game for the second year in a row. The Falcons will now compete in the WIAC Tournament championship game for the second straight season, seeking the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. UWRF will travel to face top-seeded UW-Stout on Saturday, March 7, with a 7 p.m. puck drop at Fanetti Community Center.
After a scoreless opening period in which UW-Eau Claire held a 17-11 edge in shots, sophomore goaltender Brennan Boynton kept the game even with 17 first-period saves. Boynton finished the night with 38 saves to earn his 14th victory of the season.
UWRF broke through early in the second period. At the 2:48 mark, Keenan Ingram netted his team-leading 25th goal of the season off an assist from Tyler Waram to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead.
The Falcons doubled the advantage at 7:09 of the second when Dylan Smith scored his fifth goal of the year, jumping on a rebound after a Tyler Lee shot from the blue line, pushing the lead to 2-0.
UWEC responded at 10:03 of the second period on a goal by Logan Ganz to cut the deficit to 2-1, but the Falcons answered later in the frame. Ben Portner extended the lead to 3-1 at 16:21, finishing a feed from Ingram for his 12th goal of the season.
The Blugolds applied steady pressure in the third period, outshooting the Falcons 12-7, including four shots on their lone power play opportunity. However, Boynton and the Falcon penalty kill held firm to preserve the two-goal cushion.
Burke Simpson sealed the victory with an empty-net goal at with a minute left in regulation.
UWEC finished with a 39-29 advantage in shots on goal. Neither team converted on the power play, with each side going 0-for-1.
