Cranston is Runner-Up For AHCA
Coach of the Year Honors

April 15, 2009

Falcon women's hockey Coach Joe Cranston was the runner-up for this year's American Hockey Coaches Association Coach of the Year award.

Cranston, in his 10th year with the Falcons, led the team to a 20-7-3 overall record and a berth in the NCAA National Championships. The Falcons went on the road and beat No. 1 ranked Gustavus Adolphus, 2-1, to advance to the NCAA Finals in Middlebury, Vt. The 20 wins tied a school record for victories in a season.

Cranston was also the runner-up to the national award after the 2003 season when he also led the Falcons to the NCAA Tournament.

Cranston was named the NCHA Coach of the Year in 2009, 2007 and 2003. Cranston has been the only head coach of the Falcons and has a 150-96-20 career record.

The popular coach reached a career milestone early in the 2007 season. When the Falcons defeated Bethel, 2-1, on Nov. 10 it was Cranston's 100th career win. He earned his 150th win with the 2-1 win at Gustavus Adolphus.

Cranston has been the leader of the Falcon program since its inception in 1999. He has led the Falcons to national and regional prominence. His teams have finished no lower than third place in the highly competitive Northern Collegiate Hockey Association.

Cranston has led the Falcons to more overall and NCHA wins than any other current coach in the league. His teams have won more NCHA playoff games than any other active NCHA coach.

He has coached the Falcons to nine straight winning seasons. Seven times players he has coached have been named All-Americans. Forty-six of his players have earned All-NCHA recognition and 34 players have earned NCHA All-Academic honors.

In 2009 the Falcons hosted and won the O'Brien Cup playoff title. They beat Lake Forest, 6-2, in the semifinals and Stevens Point, 5-3, in the finals.

In 2008 the Falcons defeated UW-Stevens Point, 2-1, in the of the O'Brien Cup semifinal playoffs. The Falcons advanced to the championship game only to lose, 2-1 in overtime, to UW-Superior.

The 2007 Falcons surprised most observers with their second place finish in the NCHA regular season. UWRF finished 9-4-2 in league play and finished just one point out of first place. The Falcons were second in goals for and third in goals against in the NCHA.

In 2005 the Falcons reached the NCHA playoff championship game for the fourth time in the league's six-year history. UWRF beat Superior, 5-4, in overtime to reach the finals.

The Falcons had another banner year in 2004 finishing 17-9-1 overall and 11-4-1 in the NCHA. The Falcons advanced to the NCHA playoffs and won the third place game.

In 2003 the Falcons finished 20-6-4 overall and won the NCHA regular season title with a 12-1-3 record. They went on to win the NCHA playoff championship for the second time. The Falcons then got the team's first ever berth into the NCAA Div. III playoffs. In a first round game the Falcons beat St. Thomas, 5-1, and advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four. In Elmira, N.Y., the Falcons lost to the eventual national champions, Elmira, 2-1 in the semifinals.

In 2002 the Falcons finished 13-11-3 overall and 8-6-2 and finished third in the NCHA. UWRF won a first-round NCHA playoff game to reach the league playoff championship game for the second straight year. UWRF lost a close 2-1 decision to UW-Stevens Point in the title game in Stevens Point. In 2001 the Falcons finished 19-7-1 and finished second in the NCHA regular-season standings. Cranston then led the Falcons to the NCHA Playoff Championship. UWRF beat UW-Stevens Point, 4-1, in the playoff semifinals and then the Falcons topped regular-season champions, UW-Superior, 2-1 in the title game.

Cranston was the head coach of the Somerset boy's varsity high school team from 1990-1998. He was an assistant coach there from 1988-1990. He has coached the Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association camps, clinics and select teams for over 14 years. Cranston has conducted several hockey clinics and served on the WIAA All-State selection committee for two years. He is also a coaching instructor for USA Hockey.

A native of Fergus Falls, Minn., he played youth and high school hockey there. He played for the high school team from 1979-1983 and was the team captain as a senior. He played, and was the captain, of the 1983-84 North Iowa Huskies of the USHL. Cranston then returned to Fergus Falls to attend the community college where he played with that team in 1985-86. He was the team's captain, MVP and was ranked in the Top 10 in the nation in scoring.

He earned an AA degree from Fergus Falls Community College in 1986 and his undergraduate degree in elementary education from UW-River Falls in 1990. He taught third grade in the Somerset School District from 1990-97.

Cranston resides in River Falls with his wife, Sue, and three children; Roy, 12; Walter, 10 and Irene, 7.

Joe Cranston

Falcons Fall Short 3-2 In OT, Finish Fourth at NCAA Championships

March 21, 2009

With just 12 seconds left in overtime, Middlebury College scored to top the Falcons in the third-place game at the NCAA Championships in Middlebury, VT.

Falcon goalie Melissa Deardorff stoned MC's Heather McCormack on a breakaway to keep the game scoreless just before the midway point of the first period.

Shortly after the save, Abby Sunderman gave the Falcons the early 1-0 lead when she found the net with 9:27 remaining in the first period. Sunderman was right on the doorstep and scored on a scramble in front of the goal. Stefanie Schmitz and Lauren Conrad assisted on the play.

The lead was short lived, however, as MC's Julie Ireland scored off a shot from the point with 4:15 remaining in the first. The Falcons dodged a bullet 15 seconds after the goal as a MC shot hit the post and bounced harmlessly away.

Deardorff kept the Falcons in the game in the first period with her stellar goaltending. She made four nice saves in the final two minutes of the first period, one from 20 feet out and three from close range, to secure a 1-1 tie at the first intermission.

The Falcons were outshot 15-6 in the first period and MC controlled play for much of the period.

UWRF matched the Panthers well to begin the second period. With 11:59 remaining in the second, Heather Horgan scored a power play goal for the Falcons to recapture the lead. Horgan sent a low shot from the point past the MC goalie's stick side into the net. The Falcons had a nice screen out front to aid Horgan's shot and take the 2-1 lead. Schmitz notched her second assist of the game on the play and Kayleigh Bell also was credited with an assist.

The Falcons continued to put pressure on MC as Katie Flanagan got a shot on goal off a strong rush with 9:38 remaining in the period. Flanagan tried to go through the five hole but was denied on a nice save by MC's goalie Lani Wright.

Wright again turned away a good chance for the Falcons with 1:45 to play in the second. Emma Nordness got a shot on goal off a breakaway but could not solve Wright.

UWRF outshot the Panthers 8-6 in the period and took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.

MC tied the game with 13:57 to go in the third period. After a Falcon penalty, MC's Molly Vitt got the puck at the face off dot to the right of Deardorff and beat her to the glove side to tie the game 2-2 on a power play goal.

Three minutes later it looked as if the Panthers had taken their first lead of the game, but the officials ruled that the puck was hit in by a UWRF player's hand, wiping off the goal.

Deardorff came up big again for the Falcons when she stopped a Panther shorthanded breakaway with under nine minutes remaining to keep the score tied. The Falcons responded with three straight shots on goal in the same power play, but could not light the lamp.

UWRF finished the third period with an 8-3 shot advantage, but MC finished regulation with a 24-22 advantage overall.

For the season the Falcons were 0-1-3 in overtime, while MC was 2-0-4.

In the extra period Deardorff made a pair of nice saves for the Falcons. With three minutes to go she turned away a shot from the point and with 1:40 remaining she made a pad save on a shot from the point to keep the game scoreless.

With 12.1 seconds left in the overtime MC's Grace Waters slipped in a goal to give the Panthers the victory and a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships.

Deardorff finished with 25 saves for the Falcons. MC's Wright finished with 22 saves. The Panthers were called for seven penalties and the Falcons were whistled for six in the game. UWRF was 2-7 on the power play and MC was 2-6 with the player advantage.

UWRF finishes the season with an overall record of 20-7-3.

Box Score

2008-2009 Schedule

Falcons Fall 3-0 In Semifinals of NCAA Championships

March 20, 2009

The Falcons could not solve Elmira College on Friday afternoon and fell 3-0 in the Semifinal of the NCAA Championships.

EC took the early lead just 1:36 into the game when they capitalized on a power play by scoring off a scramble in front of the net.

With 4:05 remaining in the first period, UWRF's Emma Nordness was free in front of the EC net but could not get enough stick on a one-timer from about 15 feet.

The Falcons followed with three strong shots on goal with under two minutes remaining in the first. Lauren Conrad made a full ice rush to get a shot, followed by another shot about 15 seconds later from Jamie Briski. Katie Flanagan then got a shot from about 10 feet out off of an ensuing faceoff, but could not find the net.

UWRF goalie Cassie Campbell finished the period with a great left-to-right save with 38 seconds remaining to keep the Falcons down by just one at the end of the first period.

There were nine penalties in the first period, five on UWRF and four on EC. Because of all the penalties both teams struggled to get into the flow of the game until the last five minutes of the period.

The second period started with a number of golden chances for the Falcons. EC penalties put the Falcons on the power play three times in the first ten minutes of the period, but UWRF had a difficult time advancing the puck and setting up the power play. The Falcons managed just two shots on goal in three power play chances.

After a Kayleigh Bell minor for holding, Falcon goalie Campbell picked up a couple big saves to kill the penalty. Campbell made the save on a shot from 15 feet by EC's Jenna McCall and a good save off the rebound as well. She then made a pad save on a screen shot from the point by EC's Jamie Kivi to hold down the Soaring Eagles.

At 16:55 in the second EC found the net again. Jamie Huntley's shot from about 20 feet out front hit low on the right post and went in to give EC a 2-0 lead.

The Falcons had a tough time producing offensive pressure against the Soaring Eagles. EC made it tough to get shots through to the net by piling players in front when the Falcons had the puck. EC outshot the Falcons 13-5 in the period.

Just 1:29 after the second intermission EC's Melanie Henshaw scored to give the Soaring Eagles a 3-0 lead.

The Falcons had a 5-3 advantage with about 13 minutes remaining in the game but again found it difficult to get the puck into the EC zone and set up the power play.

UWRF was outshot 25-19 for the game. EC was 1-7 on the power play, and UWRF was 0-9 with the player advantage. EC committed ten penalties while UWRF was whistled for eight in the game. Campbell finished the game with 22 saves.

UWRF (20-6-3) will face the loser of the Friday night Amherst vs. Middlebury game on Saturday, March 21 at 3:30 p.m. ET.

2009 NCAA Division III Women’s Hockey Tournament
Quarterfinals, March 13, 14, or 15th
Amherst 4, Plattsburgh 1
Elmira 3, Norwich 2
Wis.-River Falls 2, Gustavus Adolphus 1

Semifinals, Friday, March 20
Kenyon Arena – Middlebury College
Elmira 3, Wis.-River Falls 0
Amherst (22-5) vs. Middlebury (19-3-2) – 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 21
Kenyon Arena - Middlebury College
Third-Place game – 3:30 p.m.
NCAA Championship – 7 p.m.

Box Score

2008-2009 Schedule

Falcons Ready For NCAA Championships

March 16, 2009

The Falcon women’s hockey team will face off against Elmira College in the NCAA Div. III semifinals on Friday at 3:30 p.m. (ET).

UWRF advanced to the semis with a 2-1 win at Gustavus Adolpus on Saturday. Elmira (23-4-1) advanced after beating Norwich, 3-2, on Saturday. In the other semifinal, host Middlebury (19-3-4) will play Amherst (22-5) at 7 p.m., (ET) on Friday.

A third place game will be at 3:30 p.m. (ET), on Saturday followed by the championship game that is slated to start at 7 p.m. (ET).

The Falcons enter the semifinals with a 20-5-3 overall record and have won seven straight games and are 10-0-1 in their last 11 contests. The 20 wins ties the team record for wins in a season.

The Falcon line of Jessica Thompson, Stefanie Schmitz and Abby Sunderman have been on fire all season. Thompson leads the Falcons in scoring with nine goals and 31 points. Her 22 assists leads the team. She picked up an assist on the team’s first goal at Gustavus. She has scored four power-play goals. Schmitz, who scored the team’s first goal in the win at Gustavus, is second in scoring with 14 goals and 28 points. She leads the team with five power-play goals. Sunderman is third in scoring with 15 goals and 26 points. She has scored one power-play goal and one short-handed goal.

Jamie Briski and Sunderman share the team lead in goals with 15 each. Briski has 23 points. She has scored two power-play goals and is tied for the team lead with two short-handed goals. Ashly Berner is the fifth Falcon to have more than 20 points this year. She has nien goals and 23 points. She has three power-play goals.

Goalie Cassi Campbell, who made 35 saves at Gustavus to get the win, is 13-2-2 with a 1.83 goals against average and a .934 saves percentage. Melissa Deardorff has a 7-3-1 record with a 1.43 goals against average and a .943 saves percentage.

The Falcons average 4.04 goals a game and allow just 1.77.
The Falcons have scored 25 power-play goals and have a conversion percentage of .164. The Falcons have allowed 18 power-play goals and are killing of .983 of opponents’ power-play opportunities.

Elmira has seven players who have scored more than 20 points this year led by Kayla Cady who has 18 goals and 53 points. Her 35 assists lead the team. Jenna McCall leads the team with 19 goals and she has 42 points. Jamie Huntley is third in scoring with 18 goals and 38 points. The Soaring Eagles average 4.73 goals a game and allow just 1.21. They have won five straight games and allowed just three goals in that span. They have scored 26 during the five game stretch.
Elmira has scored 53 power-play goals led by McCall who has 13. The Soaring Eagle power play is converting on .283 percent of their chances. Cady, who has eight power-play goals, leads the team with four short-handed scores.

The Falcons and Soaring Eagles have met just once before. That was in the 2002-03 season, the last time the Falcons advanced to the NCAA Championship semifinals. Elmira beat the Falcons, 2-1, in a semifinal game at Elmira. 

2009 NCAA Division III Women’s Hockey Tournament
Quarterfinals, March 15
Amherst 4, Plattsburgh 1
Elmira 3, Norwich 2
Wis.-River Falls 2, Gustavus Adolphus 1

Semifinals, Friday, March 20
Kenyon Arena – Middlebury College
Elmira (23-4-1) vs. Wis.-River Falls (20-5-3) – 3:30 p.m.
Amherst (22-5) vs. Middlebury (19-3-2) – 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 21
Kenyon Arena - Middlebury College
Third-Place game – 3:30 p.m.
NCAA Championship – 7 p.m.

NCAA Bracket

Falcon Statistics

2008-2009 Schedule

Falcons Win 2-1, Advance to NCAA Championships

March 14, 2009

Kayleigh Bell scored a power play goal at 11:30 in the third period to lift the Falcons to a 2-1 win over Gustavus Adolphus College in the first round of the NCAA Div. III National Tournament on Saturday afternoon.

The Gusties outshot the Falcons in the first period 18-9, but Falcon goalie Cassi Campbell would not bend. Campbell had 18 saves in an active first period. RF was also able to effectively kill two minor penalties in the scoreless opening period.

It only took Stefanie Schmitz 20 seconds after the first intermission to find the net and give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. It was the 14th goal of the season for Schmitz, assisted by Jessica Thompson and Bell. The Falcons held the lead until 12:58 in the second period when GAC's Gracie Olson assisted teammate Lynn Hillen on her seventh goal of the season to knot the game at one goal apiece.

The score remained tied until Bell scored the eventual game winner unassisted on the power play at 11:30 in the third period. It was her seventh goal of the season. Prior to the power play goal, both teams were 0-4 with the player advantage.

Campbell finished with 35 saves for the game and improved her season record to 13-2-2. GAC goalie Danielle Justice finished the game with 18 saves and lost for only the second time all season while between the pipes.

GAC outshot the Falcons 36-20 for the game. GAC was guilty of six minor penalties and UWRF was whistled for four minor penalties in the game. The Gusties were 0-4 on the power play while the Falcons were 1-5 with the player advantage.

With the win the Falcons advance to the NCAA Div. III Championhips at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vt., on March 20 and 21.

UWRF (20-5-3) will face Elmira (23-4-1) at 3:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 20. If the Falcons win they will play for the NCAA Championship at 7:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 21. If they fall to Elmira, the Falcons will compete in the third place match at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 21.

2009 NCAA Division III Women’s Hockey Tournament
Quarterfinals, March 13, 14, or 15th
Amherst 4, Plattsburgh 1
Elmira 3, Norwich 2
Wis.-River Falls 2, Gustavus Adolphus 1

Semifinals, Friday, March 20
Kenyon Arena – Middlebury College
Elmira (23-4-1) vs. Wis.-River Falls (20-5-3) – 3:30 p.m.
Amherst (22-5) vs. Middlebury (19-3-2) – 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 21
Kenyon Arena - Middlebury College
Third-Place game – 3:30 p.m.
NCAA Championship – 7 p.m.

Box Score

2008-2009 Schedule

Falcons Open NCAA Playoffs at Gustavus Adolphus

March 9, 2009

The Falcon women’s hockey team will play at Gustavus Adolphus on Saturday at 2 p.m., in the opening round of the NCAA Div. III National Tournament.

The Falcons, 19-5-3 overall, earned the NCHA’s automatic berth into this year’s tourney. Gustavus earned the MIAC’s automatic berth and enters the game with a 22-1-4 record. The two teams played once during the regular season and the Gusties won a 5-3 decision in St. Peter on Jan. 27. The Falcons are 2-9-2 all time in the series with the Gusties.

“Even though Gustavus is the No. 1 team in the country, we are looking forward to playing them,” said Falcon Coach Joe Cranston. “They were the last team to beat us, but that was a month and a half ago. We have made a few adjustments that should really help us against them. I know it will be a game of momentum, and we will have to weather the storm at times, but they will too.”

UWRF has five players who have scored 23 or more points this year – Jessica Thompson (9-21-30), Stefanie Schmitz (13-14-27), Abby Sunderman (15-11-26), Jamie Briski (15-8-23) and Ashly Berner (9-14-23). The Falcons allow just 1.80 goals per game and are a +2.32 in goal differential per game. Goalie Cassi Campbell is 12-2-2 with a 1.89 goals against average and a .931 saves percentage. Goalie Melissa Deardorff is 7-3-1 with a 1.43 goals against average and a .943 saves percentage.

The Falcons have scored 24 power-play and seven short-handed goals. Falcon opponents have scored 18 power-play and two short-handed goals. Schmitz leads the team with five power-play goals and Thompson has four. Briski and Emma Nordness have each scored two short-handed goals. Berner leads the team with four game-winning goals and Briski has three.

Gustavus is led by Melissa Mackley who has scored eight goals and 27 points. She leads the team with 19 assists. Jessica Doig is second in scoring with 13 goals and 22 points. Allie Schwab leads GAC with 14 goals and she is third in scoring with 21 points. GAC averages 3.51 goals per game.

The Gusties have scored 36 power-play goals this year and allowed just five. Mollie Carroll leads the team with five power-play goals and Doig has four. GAC is averaging .212 on the power play and have killed off .956 of the penalties called against them.

Gustavus has played near perfect defense this year and have not allowed a goal in seven straight games. They have allowed only four goals in the team’s past 11 games. They allow only 0.69 goals a game. Goalie Danielle Justice has a 10-1-4 record with a 0.71 goals against average and a .954 saves percentage. Emily Klatt has a 12-0 record with a 0.69 goals against average and a .945 saves percentage. Both have recorded six shutouts.

The three goals the Falcons scored on Jan. 27 are the most by any team against the Gusties this year. GAC lost its first game of the season, a 2-1 decision to Adrian, and have been undefeated since then.

Gustavus won the MIAC regular season title with a 16-0-2 record and beat St. Thomas, 3-0, in the MIAC tournament championship game. GAC is 13-0-2 at home.

In the 5-3 game at Gustavus on Jan. 27, the Gusties led 2-0 after one period and 2-1 after two. Trailing 2-0, Thompson scored a power-play goal at 6:00 of the second period to get the Falcons to within 2-1. In the final period, GAC scored twice to take a 4-1 lead before Schmitz scored a power-play goal at 8:20 to make it a 4-2 game. Chelsey Calder then scored at 10:45 to get the Falcons to within 4-3. But a GAC power-play goal at 14:29 was the last goal of the game. GAC had a 38-14 advantage in shots on goal. Campbell stopped 33 shots and GAC’s Emily Klatt made 11 saves.

In other first round games, Plattsburgh plays at Amherst and Norwich is at Elmira. The winner of the first round games will advance to the NCAA semifinals that will be March 20-21 at Middlebury College, Vt. The semifinals will be played on March 20 and the finals on March 21.

2009 NCAA Division III Women’s Hockey Tournament
Quarterfinals, March 13, 14, or 15th
Plattsburgh (22-4-2) at Amherst (21-5)
Norwich (19-8-1) at Elmira (22-4-1)
River Falls (19-5-3) at Gustavus Adolphus (22-1-4)

Semifinals, Friday, March 20
Kenyon Arena – Middlebury College
Norwich/Elmira winner vs. Wis.-River Falls/Gustavus Adolphus winner – 3:30 p.m.
Plattsburgh/Amherst winner vs. Middlebury (19-3-2) – 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 21
Kenyon Arena - Middlebury College
Third-Place game – 3:30 p.m.
NCAA Championship – 7 p.m.

2008-09 Falcon Statistics

2008-09 Falcon Schedule

Falcons Win NCHA Tournament Title; Berth in NCAA National Championships

March 1, 2009

Five Falcons scored in leading UW-River Falls to a 5-3 win over UW-Stevens Point on Sunday evening to win the 2009 NCHA O’Brien Cup. With the win, RF gains an automatic berth into the NCAA National Tournament.

Stevens Point struck first at 9:50 of the first period when Dana Carothers found the net on the power play from the right side, assisted by Nicole Grossmann and Michelle Sosnowski.

A physical first period of play ended with the Pointers leading 1-0. UWSP outshot the Falcons 8-6 in the period.

The Pointers maintained their one goal lead until 16:36 in the second period when Falcon Breanne Hrabe ripped a slap shot from the blue line and teammate Katie Flanagan redirected the shot through the goalie’s legs. Lauren Conrad was also credited with an assist on the play. Then, with just 28 seconds left in the second period Conrad got a rebound and lit the lamp to give the Falcons their first lead of the game, 2-1. Brittany Erickson and Ashly Berner were credited with assists on the play.

Falcon goalie Cassi Campbell stood strong between the pipes turning away 13 Pointer shots in the second period and withstanding a barrage of Pointer offensive rushes.

The third period scoring began at 3:38 when Jamie Briski recorded a short-handed goal. Briski scooped up the rebound off of her own shot and found an opening on a tough angle from the left side of the net to give the Falcons a 3-1 lead.

Stevens Point trimmed the lead when Sosnowski scored from the left side at 9:51 in the third period, assisted by Grossmann and Carothers. However, UWRF wasted no time responding. Jessica Thompson scored the fourth Falcon goal of the game 25 seconds later, assisted by Heather Horgan.

UWRF maintained the 4-2 advantage until Pointer Sarah Phillips, assisted by Tracy Butler, narrowed the margin when she found a small opening on the Falcon goalie’s stick side and pulled the Pointers within one goal, 4-3, with 5:28 remaining in the game.

The Falcons, now 19-5-3, added to the lead when Abby Sunderman filled the Pointer empty net, assisted by Thompson, to make the score 5-3 and seal the victory for UWRF.  

The Pointers outshot the Falcons 32-26 for the game and were 1-5 on the power play. UWRF was 0-1 with the player advantage.

UWSP finishes the regular season 16-6-6.

Box Score

2008-2009 Schedule

Six Falcons Score in NCHA Semifinal Win

Feb. 27, 2009

O’Brien Cup Tournament host UW-River Falls rolled over Lake Forest, 6-2, in Saturday afternoon’s semifinal as six different Falcons tallied goals.

The Falcons took the early lead when Ashly Berner scored a power-play goal at 9:25 in the first period, assisted by Lauren Conrad. Berner brought the puck across the goal crease and beat the goalie glove-side for the score.

LF’s defense showed some strength when Forester goalie Alyssa Wintermute shut down a three-on-one Falcon rush at 10:55. Later in the first period, LF beat the Falcon penalty kill at 16:39 to tie the game at one. The rebound came out to the goalie’s right side and was lifted home by Forester Jessica Dare, assisted by Sam Herron and Courtney Bean.

RF regained the lead before the first intermission ended, however, when Brittany Erickson scored, assisted by Emma Nordness and Ally Foley.

The Foresters outshot the Falcons in the first period 15-12 but trailed 2-1.

The Falcons wasted no time getting another goal on the board in the second period. Foley found the net off a centering pass from Amanda Ryder 1:51 into the period to extend the lead to 3-1. Falcon Stefanie Schmitz tallied the fourth goal of the game when she parked in front of the net and scored at 13:20 in the second period, assisted by Abby Sunderman and Heather Horgan.

RF extended the lead in the third period when Katie Flanagan came up the left side of the rink and blasted a slap shot top-shelf past the goalie’s glove at 5:56, assisted by Berner. The final Falcon goal of the game was knocked home at 12:25 when Emma Nordness picked up her own rebound and flipped in the puck in. She was assisted by Erickson.

Herron added a late goal for the Foresters, assisted by Carolyn Thiess and Kim Herring, to provide the 6-2 final score.

The Falcons outshot the Foresters for the game 37-35. RF was 1-2 and LF was 1-5 on the power play for the game. RF was whistled for five penalties and LF committed two penalties.

Lake Forest, 12-14-1, will play Sunday at 12:05 p.m. in the third place game of the O’Brien Cup. They will play the loser of the Superior-Stevens Point semifinal.

River Falls, 18-5-3, advances to Sunday’s O’Brien Cup championship matchup at 3:30 p.m., against the winner of the Superior-Stevens Point semifinal.

Box Score

2008-2009 Schedule

Seven Earn All-NCHA Honors;

Cranston is Coach of the Year

Feb. 26, 2009

Seven members of the Falcon women's hockey team have been named to the 2009 All-NCHA teams. Coach Joe Cranston was named the league's Coach of the Year.

Forwards Stefanie Schmitz (Jr., Farmington, Minn.) and Jessica Thompson (So., Shoreview, Minn.) and defender Amanda Ryder (Fr., Menomonie, Wis.) were all named to the first team. Forwards Jamie Briski (So., Chisholm, Minn.) and Abby Sunderman (Jr., LeSueur, Minn.) and defender Baily Vikstrom (So., Burnsville, Minn.) and goalie Cassi Campbell (So., Anchorage, Alaska) all earned honorable mention.

Thompson and Campbell both earned honorable mention to the 2008 team.

Schmitz is second on the team with 12 goals and 26 points. She leads the team with five power-play goals and she has two game-winners. In 80 career games she has scored 33 goals and 76 points. She has 14 power-play goals, one short-handed goal and six game winners.

Thompson leads the Falcons with 28 points. She has eight goals and leads the team with 20 assists. She has scored four power-play goals. She has scored 14 goals and 47 points in 53 career games. She has six power-play goals and a game-winner.

Ryder has scored four goals and eight points for the Falcons. She has scored one power-play goal.

Briski is fourth on the team with 22 points. She is tied for the team lead with 14 goals. She has two power-play goals, a short-handed goal and three game-winners. She has scored 29 goals and 51 points in 53 career games. She has four power-play goals, four short-handed goals and five game-winners.

Sunderman is third in scoring for the Falcons with 24 points and is tied for the team lead with 14 goals. She has one power-play goal, one short-handed goal and a game-winner. In 79 career games she has scored 33 goals and 57 points. She has eight power-play goals, one short-handed tally and five game-winners.

Vikstrom has scored one goal and six points for the Falcons. She has one power-play goal. In 53 career games she has scored one goal and eight points. She has scored one power-play goal.

Campbell has played in 14 games and has a 10-2-2 record. She has a 1.84 goals against average and a .932 saves percentage. Campbell has recorded three shutouts. She has played in 42 career games and has a 26-11-4 record with a 1.77 goals against average and a .931 saves percentage. She has seven career shutouts.

The Falcons finished the regular season with a 17-5-3 overall record and won the NCHA regular season title. The Falcons host the NCHA Tournament this weekend at Hunt Arena.

2008-09 Schedule

Feb. 10, 2009

mma Nordness (Fr., Excelsior, Minn. Benilde-St. Margaret's HS) has been named the NCHA Player of the Week according to league Sports Information Director, Brian Monohan.

Nordness had two strong games in helping the Falcons to a NCHA sweep over Concordia University last weekend at Hunt Arena. The two wins helped the Falcons stay in first place in the NCHA standings with two weeks to play in the regular season. Nordness, 5-3, scored her first collegiate hat trick in Friday's 6-0 win. She scored her first goal, unassisted, at 13:53 of the opening period. She scored the team's final two goals at 17:33 and 19:39 of the third period. Her third goal came with the Falcons on the power play. She also picked up an assist on the team's second goal of the game in the opening stanza. Nordness has scored six goals and has nine points in 20 games. She leads the team with two short-handed goals and has one power-play goal and one game-winner.

On Tuesday the Falcons, ranked No. 8 in this week's USCHO.com poll, play at No. 6 ranked St. Thomas at 7 p.m. UWRF then plays two NCHA games at Finlandia on Saturday and Sunday.

Falcons Knock Off Stevens Point 3-2

Jan. 31, 2009

Abby Sunderman and Jessica Thompson each score two points as the Falcons take over first place in the NCHA standings with a 3-2 win on the road Saturday night in Stevens Point

Stefanie Schmitz knocked in the first goal of the contest at 6:25 on a power play goal. Thompson and Sunderman assisted on the play, giving the Falcons a 1-0 lead. It was Schmitz's team leading tenth goal of the season. Minutes later in the frame UWSP tied up the contest with a power play goal of their own at 9:48

In the second, the Falcons recaptured the lead. At 19:31, Sunderman scored her ninth goal of the season to give the Falcons a one goal lead 2-1. Thompson assisted on the play.

Skating shorthanded in the third, the Falcons took a 3-1 on an Emma Nordess goal, her third of the season at 5:34 that proved to be the game winner. Ally Foley assisted on the play.

Stevens Point added a goal late in the third at 17:54 after pulling the goaltender for the 6-on-5 advantage.

Cassi Campbell picked up the win, improving to 8-2-1 on the season. She stopped 36 of 38 shots faced.

The Falcons were outshot by the Pointers 38 to 19. Each team commited four penalties for eight minutes and went 1 for 4 on the power play.

With the win, the Falcons and Stevens Point sit atop the NCHA standings together with 19 points apiece.

The Falcons improve to 11-5-2 (9-2-1) and now will face Concordia (WI) next weekend for a two-game NCHA series. Action will get under at 7:05 p.m. Friday night at Hunt Arena.

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2008-2009 Schedule

Jan. 28, 2009

Forward Stefanie Schmitz (Jr., Farmington, Minn.) helped the Falcons win three of a possible four NCHA points at UW-Superior last weekend and has been named the league's Player of the Week according to NCHA Sports Information Director, Brian Monahan.

. Schmitz, 5-5, scored the game-tying goal in the team's 2-2 overtime tie on Friday. She scored the power-play goal at 18:43 of the second period. In Saturday's 4-2 win, she netted the game-winning goal at 13:44 of the second stanza. Schmitz leads the Falcons with with nine goals and 16 points. She leads the Falcons with four power-play goals and she has two game-winners.

The Falcons, now 10-5-2 overall and 8-2-1 in the NCHA, will play at UW-Stevens Point on Saturday with first place in the league on the line. Both teams have 17 points in league play entering the game.

Calder Scores Twice to Help Falcons to 4-2 Win at UWS

Jan. 24, 2009

Chelsey Calder picked a good time to get her first goals of the season as she scored twice helping the Falcons knock off UW-Superior, 4-2, on Saturday afternoon in Superior.

Emma Nordness put the Falcons up first late in the first period at 17:49 with an unassisted shorthanded goal. It was her second goal of this season. It was the team's fifth short-handed goal of the season.

In the second, it was all Falcons again. Ashly Berner and Jamie Briski set up Calder's first goal of the game on a power play 1:38 into the period. It was her first goal this season and the first of her collegiate career. Jessica Thompson assisted Stefanie Schmitz's eighth goal of the season at 13:44 that made it a 3-0 Falcon lead.

Superior took the edge in the third, making it a 3-2 contest after scoring two goals at 8:17 on a 5-on-3 power play and again on a 5-on-4 power play at 14:31 . Calder's second goal, at 16:29 of the contest, clinched the win for the Falcons.

Falcon goalie Cassi Campbell tallied her seventh win of the season and is now 7-1-1 . In the win, she stopped 36 shots. Over half of her saves came in the third period when she stopped 19.

The Yellowjackets held a 38-28 advantage in shots throughout the contest. UWS was 2-8 on the power play and the Falcons were 1-3. UWRF was called for eight minor penalties and UWS for three.

With Friday's 2-2 tie, the Falcons won three out of a possible four points in the NCHA series. The Falcons have 17 league points and will be in either first or second place after games today - depending on the outcome of the Stevens Point-Concordia game.

The Falcons, now 10-4-2 overall and 8-2-1 in the NCHA, will travel to St. Peter , Minn., on Tuesday to play No. 2 ranked Gustavus Adolphus in a non-conference match-up. Action starts at 7 p.m.

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2008-2009 Schedule

Falcon Skate to 2-2 Tie at UWS

Jan. 23, 2009

Jamie Briski and Stefanie Schmitz knock in goals as the Falcons skated to a 2-2 overtime tie at UW- Superior on Friday afternoon.

After a scoreless first period, Superior pulled ahead with a goal at 3:46 in the middle period. Later in the period, Heather Horgan assisted Jamie Briski's eighth goal this season that tied the contest up at 1-1 at 8:23. The Yellowjackets responded promptly with a goal just over a minute later at 9:49, taking the lead, 2- 1. A Yellowjacket penalty set up a Falcon power play and Jessica Thompson set up Stefanie Schmitz's seventh goal of the season at 18:43.

The Falcons out shot Superior, 3-1, in the extra frame but neither team could get the game winner.

Cassie Campbell returned from an injury that left her sidelined since Dec. 13. Campbell stopped 30 of 32 Yellowjacket shots. She is 6-1-1 on the season. Superior edged River Falls, 32-30, in shots on goal.

The Falcons, now 9-4-2 overall and 7-2-1 in the NCHA, will finish their two game series against the Yellowjackets tomorrow in Superior . Action gets underway at 2:05 p.m.

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2008-2009 Schedule

Briski Scores Hat Trick; Falcons Beat Finlandia, 6-1
Jan. 11, 2009

Jamie Briski scored the three goal hat trick to help lead the Falcon women's hockey team to a 6-1 win over Finlandia on Sunday afternoon at Hunt Arena.

The Falcons led 2-0 after one period and 4-0 after two.

Abby Sunderman, who finished with two goals and an assist, opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 8:46 of the first period. She was assisted by Jessica Thompson and Laura Conrad. Briski scored her first of the day at 10:22 - another power-play goal. Ashly Berner picked up the lone assist.

Sunderman scored her second of the day, and seventh of the year, at 10:29 of the second stanza. Stefanie Schmitz and Amanda Ryder got the assists. At 15:21 Briski scored again with Rachel Blader picking up the assist.

Briski completed the hat trick, the second of her collegiate career, just 11 seconds into the third period. Breanna Hrabe assisted on the goal that gave the Falcons a 5-0 lead. It was Briski's seventh goal of the year. Schmitz then scored her fifth goal of the season at 2:29 with Sunderman assisting.

Finlandia avoided the shutout with just 27 seconds left i the game when Kendra Benson scored a power-play goal.

UWRF outshot the Lions, 52-20. The 52 shots is the second most by the Falcons in a game. They had 59 in a 7-0 win over Augsburg on Nov. 7. UWRF had 15 first period shots, 16 in the second and 21 in the third. They had a 21-3 shot advantage in the final period. UWRF was called for 11 minor penalties and Finlandia seven. The Falcons finished 2-6 on the power play and the Lions were 1-9.

Melissa Deardorff made 18 saves to get the win and improve to 3-1-1 this year. Katie Kantrud played the final 12:36 and made one save. FU's Annika Danielson stopped 46 shots.

The Falcons remain in first place in the NCHA with 14 points and lead second place UW-Stevens Point by one point.

The Falcons, now 9-2-1 overall and 7-2 in the NCHA, will next host Adrian College in a non-conference game on Saturday at 2:05 p.m., at Hunt Arena.

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2008-2009 Schedule

Falcons Get 5-3 Win Over UWEC
Dec. 13, 2008

Abby Sunderman and Stefanie Schmitz helped the Falcons stay atop the NCHA standings, knocking in a goal and an assist a piece, to lead the Falcons in a 5-3 win over UW-Eau Claire on Saturday afternoon at Hunt Arena.

Ashly Berner’s unassisted goal, at 11:59 in the first, her third this season, put the Falcons on board first. Later in the period, Katie Flanagan landed one in the net for her fourth goal of the season at 13:41 off an Emma Nordness assist.

Eau Claire would cut their deficit to one, with a goal from Maddi Hammer; however, the Falcons were quick to respond. Sunderman knocked in her fifth goal of the season to reestablish a two-goal Falcon lead at 16:41. Schmitz assisted on the play.

Jamie Briski and Lauren Conrad dished one off to Breanne Hrabe, who found the back of the net for the fifth time this season at :58 in the third period on a power play goal. Schmitz scored her fourth goal of the season at 4:05 in the third, with assists coming from Jessica Thompson and Sunderman.

Eau Claire tallied up two more goals in the third, at 7:32 and 18:39, respectively, before playing the remainder of the game with the advantage after a Falcon penalty set up a Blugold power play.

Cassi Campbell picked up her sixth win of the season, saving 27 of 30 shots faced in the contest.

The Falcons narrowly outshot the Blugolds 31-30. The Blugolds were 1-7 on the power play and the Falcons went 1–4.

The Falcons, now 8-1-1 overall and 6-1-1 in the NCHA, will sit dormant until Jan. 10 when they host UW-Superior in a NCHA game at Hunt Arena. Action will get underway at 2:05 p.m.

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2008-2009 Schedule

Falcons Lose to UWSP, 3-1
Nov. 22, 2008

UW-Stevens Point jumped out to a 3-0 lead and went on to a 3-1 win over the Falcon women's hockey team on Saturday afternooon at Hunt Arena. It was the first loss of the season for the Falcons.

UWSP's Erin Marvin started the scoring with a short-handed goal at 13:27 of the first period. That was the only goal of the opening 20 minutes.

The Pointers took a 2-0 lead at 11:30 of the second period when Jenna Daggit scored. With just 25 seconds to go in the second stanza Stevens Point grabbed a 3-0 lead when Dana Carothers scored.

The Falcons got back in the game at 5:20 of the final period when Abby Sunderman scored her team best fourth goal of the year. She was assisted by Chelsey Calder. It was a short-handed goal and the marker gave the Falcons a lift. But they were unable to score again.

UWSP outplayed the Falcons in the first period and held an 11-6 advantage in shots on goal. But the Falcons dominated play in the second and third periods. In the second the Falcons had a 13-3 advantage in shots and had a 14-5 advantage in the final period.

UWRF finished with 33 shots on goal and UWSP had 19. Neither team scored on the power play - the Falcons finished 0-6 and the Pointers were 0-5.

UWRF goalie Cassi Campbell made 16 saves and UWSP's d'Andra Phillips stopped 32 shots. Campbell is now 4-1 and Phillips is 1-1-1.

The Falcons, now 5-1, (3-1 NCHA), will next play another NCHA game at Lake Forest on Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.

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2008-2009 Schedule

Falcons Top Stevens Point 4-2
Nov. 21, 2008

Bre Hrabe scored two goals, included a game clincher on an empty netter at 19:32 in the third period and Ashly Berner added three assists as the Falcons went on to defeat Stevens Point in a NCHA game 4-2 at home Friday night.

In a highly penalized contest in which 20 penalties were called, 7 in the first, 9 in the second, and four in the third, the Falcons drew first blood. At 14:44 in the first period, Jessica Thompson punched in the first Falcon goal on a Falcon power play with an assist from Kayleigh Bell. It was Thompsons third goal this season.

In the second, Stevens Point evened the score with a 4-on-4 goal a minute in to the period at 0:58. The Falcons responded with a goal of their own at 5:18 when Jamie Briski slapped in her third goal of the season with assists coming from Ashly Berner and Hrabe. With little time left in the frame, Hrabe found the first of her two goals of the night at 19:32 off Berner assist. It was Hrabes second goal this season.

It wasn't until the third period that the first goal of the contest was scored. On A Forester power play, Briski evaded the Forester defense and deked out goal tender Alyssa Wintermute for a short handed goal, her first goal of the season, at 5:51 in the final frame. Ally Foley picked up an assist on the play, her first of the season.

Stevens Point pulled to within one to start at the 13:50 point in the third period on a Pointer power play. Hrabe sealed the win for the Falcons with an empty netter, her third this sesaon. Berner assisted on the play.

Cassi Campbell picked up her fourth win of the season. She stopped 22 of 24 shots faced in the win.

The Falcons went 1 for 8 on the power play; Stevens Point went 1 for 6.

The Falcons, now 5-0-0, (3-0-0), will host Stevens Point tomorrow night at Hunt Arena for the final matchup of two game set. Action gets underway Saturday afternoon at 2:05 p.m.

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2008-2009 Schedule

Falcons Defeat St Catherine
Nov. 7, 2008

For the second game in a row, six Falcons scored goals, as UWRF went on to defeat St. Catherine in its home opener, 6-1, Saturday afternoon at Hunt Arena.

The Falcons worked their way out of a 1-0 deficit after the first period by scoring six unanswered goals.

At 0:31 in the second period Jamie Briski scored her first goal of the season to even the score at one a piece. Ashly Berner assisted Briski on the goal. Abby Sunderman added to the Falcon lead at 3:37 with her second of the season with assists coming from Jessica Thompson and Stefanie Schmitz. Katie Flanagan made a 3-1 contest with her second goal of the season off assists from Lauren Conrad and Bre Hrabe. Just after midperiod, Emma Nordness knocked in her first goal of the season at 11:10 with assists coming from Flanagan and Amanda Ryder.

The Falcons would net two more in the third period. Hrabe scored her first goal of the season at 7:14 on a wicked slap shot from the circle. Lauren Conrad knocked in a power play goal at 11:07 with assists from Chelsey Calder and Katie Flanagan.

Sophomore goaltender Cassi Campbell recorded her first victory of the season. In the win, she stopped 28 of 29 shots faced in 60:00 minutes.

The Falcons committed 14 penalties and found themselves in the box for 28 minutes. St. Catherine was 1 for 10 on the power play and the Falcons went 1 for 5.

The Falcons, now 2-0-0, will face Lake Forest at home next Saturday. Puck drops at 2:05 at Hunt Arena.

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2008-2009 Schedule

Falcons Take Opener 7-0
Nov. 7, 2008

Six Falcons put the puck between the pipes, Brittany Erickson scored twice, as the Falcons take the season opener 7-0 at Augsburg College on Friday night.

It was Erickson who scored the first goal 21 seconds into the new season off a Jamie Briski assist, their first of the season. A little over two minutes later, Katie Flanagan was assisted by Bre Hrabe and Amanda Ryder on her first goal of the season at 2:37, giving the Falcons a quick 2-0 lead with pleanty of hockey left to play. Bailey Vickstrom assisted Stefanie Schmitz on her first goal of the campaign at 14:23. The Falcons kept Augsburg goaltender, Toni Menth, busy in the first period, shooting 23 times in the frame.

The Falcons were just as dominant in the middle period. The Falcons netted four goals the first of which came 22 seconds into the period off the stick of Abby Sunderman with an assist going to Jessica Thompson. Shortly after at 1:24 Erickson tallied her second goal of the season with a little help from Briski on her second assist of the game and Ashly Berner's first. Later in the period at 2:54 Thompson found the net for the first time this year with assists coming from Sunderman and Schmitz. Scoring the last goal of the contest and the period for the Falcons was Kayleigh Bell with Emma Nordness assisting it in. The Falcons found the net four times on 13 shots in the period.

Between the pipes for the Falcons was Melissa Deardorff. The freshman saved all 22 shots faced in the contest for her first collegiate victory.

Both teams failed to convert on the powerplay. The Falcons went 0-10 and Augsburg went 0-7.

Tomorrow the Falcons, 1-0-0, look to continue their winning ways in their home opener. They host St. Catherine with the puck dropping 2:05 p.m., at Hunt Arena.

Box Score

2008-2009 Schedule