UW-River Falls Sports update

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Men’s Hockey: Falcons still in hunt in NCHA

The eighth-ranked UW-River Falls men’s hockey team posted a pair of NCHA victories last week to stay on the heels of first place St. Norbert in the league standings.

The Falcons defeated UW-Eau Claire, 3-2, Thursday night, Feb. 2 and UW-Stout, 7-6 in overtime Saturday, Feb. 4, to improve to 15-6-2 overall, 9-5-2 in NCHA play. The Falcons will play their final two games of the regular season this weekend when they host St. Scholastica Friday, Feb. 10 and UW-Superior Saturday, Feb. 11. Both games start at 7:05 p.m., at Hunt Arena.

UWRF is in second place in the NCHA standings with 20 points, two points behind sixth-ranked St. Norbert and two ahead of No. 13 St. Scholastica.

Last Thursday at Hunt Arena, former River Falls High School standout Ross Andersen scored both Blugold goals, but Jeff Burke snapped a 2-2 tie in the second period and UWRF held on for a 3-2 victory.

Saturday at UW-Stout, Alec Hagaman scored twice, including the game-winner at 1:42 of overtime, to help the Falcons to a wild 7-6 win over the Blue Devils. Jake Calleja of New Richmond also scored twice for the Falcons.

Hockey: Women skaters sweep Concordia

The UWRF women’s hockey team took two games from Concordia over the weekend, 8-3 Friday and 7-0 Saturday (Feb. 3-4), to solidify its hold on first place in the NCHA standings..

The eighth-ranked Falcons, now 17-3-2 overall, 15-2-1 in the NCHA, will play their final NCHA series of the season this weekend at Finlandia (0-18-2, 0-15-1).

Last Friday against Concordia, River Falls High School graduate Alice Cranston had one goal and three assists and Katie Flanagan had two goals and two assists as the Falcons scored a season high eight goals in an 8-3 victory.

Kait Mason had a hat trick and dished out one assist and Emma Nordness had a goal and three assists Saturday to lead the Falcons to a 7-0 win.

Men’s hoops cruises at UWEC

Wade Guerin recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds and Shane Manor added 14 points as the UW-River Falls men’s basketball team defeated UW-Eau Claire, 63-41, Saturday night, Feb. 4 at Zorn Arena in Eau Claire.

The victory extends the Falcons winning streak to four as they continue to keep pace with UW-Stevens Point and UW-Whitewater in the WIAC standings. Stevens Point is in first place at 11-2, one-half game ahead of River Falls and Whitewater, who are each 10-2.

The Falcons, 16-5 overall, are home for two games this week, Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. against UW-Superior (13-9 overall, 7-6 WIAC), and Saturday, Feb. 11 at 5 p.m. against UW-Oshkosh (4-17, 0-12).

Basketball: Women win thriller

Tiffany Gregorich hit a layup with 15 seconds remaining to give UWRF a one-point lead, and Alise Holst’s steal with two seconds remaining secured a 60-59 upset victory for the Falcon women’s basketball team over UW-Eau Claire Saturday, Feb. 4 in Eau Claire.

Gregorich led all players with 21 points. She added four steals and four assists while Maranda Dohrn pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds. Holst had four steals while scoring 14 points and grabbing seven boards. 

Up next for the Falcons (17-4 overall) is an away contest Wednesday, Feb. 8 at UW-Superior (10-11, 4-9). They return home to host UW-Oshkosh (7-14, 1-11) Saturday, Feb. 11 at 3 p.m.

Tags: sports, hockey, basketball, prep