RIVER FALLS, Wis. — The No. 1-ranked UW-River Falls women's hockey team stormed back from a 3-0 deficit to score five unanswered goals, defeating No. 9/10-ranked UW-Eau Claire 5-3 Saturday night at Hunt Arena.
The Falcons, now 20-1 overall and 8-1 in the WIAC with their 16th win in a row, handed the Blugolds their first WIAC loss of the season, as UWEC's record drops to 16-6 overall and 8-1 in the WIAC. The three-goal comeback was UWRF's largest rally since the Falcons came back to defeat Gustavus Adolphus College 5-3 last season (Nov. 12, 2024), also erasing a three-goal deficit with five unanswered tallies.
Down 3-0 through seven minutes of the second period, UWRF's comeback began at 7:59 of the middle frame when a MaKenna Aure unassisted goal ignited the Falcon bench and the Hunt Arena crowd. Aure struck again on the power play later in the period to trim the deficit to one, before Alexa Niccum knotted the game at 3-3 soon after.
The decisive blow came late in the second period. During UWRF's third power play chance of the night, Megan Goodreau buried her team-leading 23rd goal of the season to give the Falcons their first lead of the game at 4-3. It marked Goodreau's 13th power play goal on the year, breaking a WIAC single-season record. Goodreau's 13 power play goals passes the previous conference record of 12 set by both Sophie Rausch of UW-Eau Claire (2022-23) and Melanie Salatino of UW-Superior (2001-02).
UWRF put the finishing touch on the comeback early in the final frame when Kailey Niccum extended the lead to 5-3, redirecting a pass just outside the crease from Brooklyn Riley, giving the home team some breathing room and cementing the rally.
Goaltender Jordan O'Kane turned aside 16 Blugold shots, earning her 16th win of the season. Aure led the way offensively for UWRF with two goals and an assist, while Sophia Hess notched three assists.
Up next, the Falcons host a nonconference game against Saint Mary's University on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at Hunt Arena.
