RIVER FALLS, WIS.—The Hamline University men's hockey team made the short trek over the Minnesota-Wisconsin border to face UW-River Falls on Saturday night. The Pipers had the slight upper hand in shots at 33-31, but dropped a 3-1 decision to the Falcons.
Hamline falls to 3-3-0, while UW-River Falls improves to 3-2-0.
UW-River Falls 3, Hamline 1
Hamline starting goaltender Trevor Wong made 14 of his 28 saves in the first period. Wong's lone blemish in the frame occurred at 17:27, when Arsenii Smekhnov scored immediately following Noah Rolfe's face-off win to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. Josh Martin was also credited an assist on the play.
Wong accumulated 13 more saves over the final stages of the opening frame, and the entire second period to keep the score 1-0.Â
The Pipers couldn't narrow their deficit despite outshooting the Falcons 10-6 in the third period. UW-River Falls stretched their cushion to 3-0 courtesy of goals from Owen Belisle at 1:57, and Valentino Passarelli at 13:39.Â
Hamline responded with a 6-0 shots advantage from that point forward, which included Brandon McNamara's goal at 14:24 of the third that narrowed the score to 3-1. AJ Carls and Kyle Mortenson each picked up an assist.
The Pipers were victim of 3-of-7 penalties assessed in the contest.
Dean Buchholz tallied 32 saves in net for the Falcons.
Hamline will host open a home-and-home MIAC series against St. Olaf at TRIA Rink on Friday, November 17 at 7 p.m.
