Men's Hockey Drops First NCHA Game To Falcons

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Posted: Friday, November 17, 2006

EAU CLAIRE - In a rematch from the 3-2 season opener upset, seventh-ranked UW-River Falls scored a goal for each period as it defeated the UW-Eau Claire men's hockey team 3-1.

Eau Claire is 4-2-0 overall and 0-1-0 now in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA). It was also the first NCHA affair for the Falcons, who are 6-1-0 overall. The previous battle between these two was the 3-2 Blugold upset earlier this season when Ryan Mensing (So.-Langley, BC/Walnut Grove SS) stopped 42 of 44 shots. The all-time standings now sit 26-76-3 in favor of River Falls.

The first goal came 14:48 into the contest on a Falcon powerplay. The Blugolds outshot River Falls 8-3 on the period however.

At 2:18 into the second Mike Schneider (So.-Owatonna, MN) found net to tie the game up. Kyle Garner (Sr.-Sun Prairie) and Andrew Johnson (So.-Andover, MN/Anoka) were in on the assists for this evenhanded score. The Falcons wasted no time taking the lead back. Just 16 seconds later Derek Hansberry scored his first of two goals to put River Falls back on top. It too was even-sided.

The final blow came late in the final period on an open net after Mensing was pulled for the extra attacker. It also was a powerplay.

The shots were relatively even with River Falls having 29 to the Blugold 27. Mensing had 26 saves There were eight Falcon powerplays, two of which were cashed in. Eau Claire went 0-for-6. River Falls was whistled for eight penalties in comparison to 10 for the Blugolds.

The five-game homestand is complete with Eau Claire going 3-2 during the stretch. It will now head on the road and face UW-Stout tomorrow. The NCHA rival is 5-0-1 this year and defeated ninth-ranked UW-Stevens Point 6-2 tonight. Tomorrow's Blue Devil battle occurs at 7:30 p.m. in Menomonie.

Eau Claire-River Falls Box Score

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