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Falcons Defeat Superior in Another
Close One
Box
Score
When UW-River Falls and UW-Superior get together, a
one-goal game seems to be a sure thing.
That was the case again in Saturday�s Northern
Collegiate Hockey Association semifinals as the teams played their fourth
one-goal game in as many meetings this season with UW-River Falls finally
emerging with a 5-4 win on a goal by Jenna Scanlon with 2:33 left in overtime at
Ice Hawks Arena in Stevens Point.
The Falcons advance to their fourth league title game
in the five-year history of the tournament and play top-seeded UW-Stevens Point
Sunday at 5 p.m. The Pointers defeated UW-Eau Claire
3-0 in the other semifinal. UW-Stevens Point and UW-River Falls are the only
teams to win NCHA playoff titles, each winning two of the four all-time
tournaments.
UW-River Falls (13-11) used a gritty performance,
playing with only 13 skaters due to injuries and rallying with a late third
period goal after seeing a two-goal lead slip away in a wild third period.
UW-Superior�s Amy Kachinske scored a first period goal
before UW-River Falls tied the game in the second period on a goal by Kelly
Jensen. The Falcons took their lead with two early third period goals from Renae
Bergh and Molly Buehner. Buehner�s goal came with 12:22 left in the game for a
3-1 advantage.
UW-Superior showed plenty of resolve itself,
responding just 19 seconds later as Rae Hannah scored to make it 3-2. The
Yellowjackets then scored the fastest two consecutive goals in NCHA playoff
history as Hannah scored with 3:49 left and Erin Kegley scored her national-best
25th goal of the year just 28 seconds later to put UW-Superior ahead 4-3.
But, this time UW-River Falls wasted no time answering
the score, tying the game on a goal by Amy Bruggeman just 21 seconds later to
eventually send the game to overtime.
The Falcons had 11 shots in the overtime and two
consecutive power plays, but were unable to score until Scanlon�s goal that was
assisted by Kristen Hurley. It was the fourth overtime game in the 18-game
history of the league playoffs and already the eighth one-goal game.
It was also another heartbreaking loss for the
Yellowjackets, who are now 15-7-1 with six losses by one goal and the other
coming by two goals with an empty net score. UW-Superior will play UW-Eau Claire
for third place on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Falcons� goalie Amber Lindner made 19 saves and Kristy
Faechner stopped 27 shots for UW-Superior.
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