Conrad's Three Points Help Falcons to Win

Nov. 21, 2009

Lauren Conrad’s goal and two assists helped the Falcon women’s hockey team to a 4-2 win and a split the two-game series with UW-Superior on Saturday afternoon at Hunt Arena.

For the second game in the row, the Falcons had to work out of a 1-0 deficit after Superior jumped out to a 1-0 lead midway through the first period. UWS’s Teagan Cassan slipped one past Falcon goaltender Melissa Deardorff at 13:37. Minutes later a Superior penalty set up a Falcon power play and Jamie Briski knocked in her fourth goal of the season with assists coming from Alyssa Jackson and Kayleigh Bell at 15:28.

In the second, Brittany Erickson’s first goal of the season put the Falcons back on top 2-1 at the 14:48 mark of the period. Heather Horgen and Conrad assisted on the play.

Play was suspended for roughly 20 minutes after a scary collision in the Falcon offensive zone with just 13 seconds to play in the second period. Falcon Amanda Ryder was carted off the ice on a stretcher.

A Falcon holding penalty in the third resulted in a Yellowjacket power play and goal at 12:37 off the stick of Jessica Tyra. The Falcons answered with a power play goal of their own at 14:21 that proved to be the game winner. Ashly Berner knocked it in for her first goal of the season with assists awarded to Conrad and Bell. Conrad put the final nail in the coffin with an empty netter at 19:25.

Deardorff stopped 18 of 20 UWS shots en route to her third win of the season. She now sits at 3-0-0. The Falcons outshot the Yellowjackets 22-20. Each team committed seven penalties for 14 minutes in the box. The Falcons were 2 for 6 on the advantage and Superior was 1 for 6.

The 4-1-1, (1-1 in the NCHA) Falcons now gear up for a home non-conference game against St. Olaf College of the MIAC. Action is set to get underway at 7:05 p.m. at Hunt Arena Tuesday night.

The Falcons were ranked No. 5 in last week's USCHO.com poll.

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2009-10 Schedule

Falcons Drop 3-2 NCHA Game to UW-Superior

Nov. 20, 2009

The No. 5 ranked Falcon women’s hockey team dropped its first game of the season, 3-2, to UW-Superior Friday afternoon at Hunt Arena.

Superior jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period after sliding two goals past Falcon goaltender Cassi Campbell. A Kayleigh Bell tripping penalty set up a Yellowjacket power play where Allie Pullar knocked in the first goal for Superior at 3:53. With under a minute to play in the first, Superior cushioned their lead with a goal at 19:03 from Ashlee Olson.

The Falcons bounced back in the second. A Yellowjacket checking penalty set up a Falcon power play. Laura Conrad and Katie Flanagan assisted Amanda Ryder’s laser shot, cutting the Falcon deficit to one on a power-play goal midway through the period at 10:09. It was Ryder’s second goal of the season.

Down 2-1 in the third, the Falcons tied up the contest at two with a power-play goal from Alyssa Jackson, her first of the season. Ashly Berner and Jamie Briski assisted on the play at 8:19.

But with under a minute to go in regulation, Superior sealed the deal with the game winner at 19:01 off the stick of Kim Schmeichel.

The Falcons narrowly outshot Superior 24-19. Campbell stopped 16 of 19 Yellowjacket shots. In the loss, she has fallen to 1-1-1 on the season.

Superior ranked up 18 minutes in the box off nine penalties. The Falcons were in the box for 10 minutes off five penalties. The Falcons converted two of nine power plays and Superior converted one of four.

Up next, the 3-1-1 Falcons, will host Superior to wrap up the two game series. Action is set to get underway at 2:05 p.m., on Saturday at Hunt Arena. The Falcons are 0-1 in NCHA play.

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2009-10 Schedule

Conrad Scores Twice to Help Lead Falcons to 5-1 Win

Nov. 14, 2009

Lauren Conrad scored twice to help the UWRF women’s hockey team extend its unbeaten streak to four games with a 5-1 win over Bethel University on Saturday afternoon at Hunt Arena.

Conrad’s goals both came in the first period. Her first was unassisted 16:10 into the period. Her second goal came at 18:25 with an assist from Alyssa Jackson. The goals were the first two of season for Conrad.

The Falcons took to the second period with a 2-0 lead. Katie Flanagan added to the lead with her fourth goal of the season at 6:10. Bre Hrabe and Emma Nordness assisted on the play. Jessica Thompson scored her first goal of the season at 8:10 to give the Falcons a 4-0 lead. A minute later at 9:25, Bethel’s Rachael Geng scored to pull her team to within 4-1. Stefanie Schmitz tallied her first goal of the season at 13:51 to give the Falcons a 5-1 advantage.

The Falcons outshot Bethel 43-12. The Falcons put up 22 shots in the first, seven in the second, and 14 in the third.

Falcon goalie Melissa Deardorff picked up her second win of the season and is now 2-0-0. She has allowed only one goal this season. BU’s Jess Newstrom stopped 38 Falcon shots.

Up next, the 3-0-1 Falcons, ranked No. 6 in last week’s USCHO.com poll, host NCHA rival UW-Superior for their first league games of the season. Action is set to get underway at 2:05 p.m., Friday and Saturday at Hunt Arena.

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2009-10 Schedule

Falcons Skate to Overtime Tie Against Gustavus Adolphus

Nov. 13, 2009

A late goal in the third period by No. 2 ranked Gustavus Adolphus cost the No. 6 ranked Falcons their upset bid in a 3-3 overtime tie played Friday night at Hunt Arena.

Falcon Goaltender  Cassi Campbell stopped all 11 Gustie shots on goal as the first  period yielded no goals for either team. The Falcons only had two shots on goal. The Falcons did not convert their one power play opportunity. Gustavus failed to convert two player advantages.

In the second, Gustavus struck first. At 14:33, the Gusties found the back of the net on a power play to give them the 1-0 advantage.

Entering the third period down 1-0, the Falcons knotted the score up at 1-1 with a goal 2:46 into the stanza. Katie Flanagan found the net for the third time this season to tie the score. At 4:53, Jamie Briski score her third goal of the season on a power play. Amanda Ryder scored her first goal of the season and gave the Falcons a 3-1 lead with just under 12 minutes to play at 8:10.

Gustavus rallied, throwing all of what they had against Campbell. Campbell dominated after allowing her first goal and made multiple game saving saves. She denied several Gustie open break opportunities. The Gusties scored two unanswered goals in the last seven minute. The first, a power-play goal, came at 13:15 and the second with just 16 seconds to play in regulation.

In overtime, Campbell denied all four Gustie shots. The Falcons only had one shot on goal. Overall, she saved 36 of 39 Gustie shots. She is now 1-0-1 on the season.

The Falcons scored one power play goal on four opportunities while Gustavus converted one of five. The Falcons had six penalties for 12 minutes and Gustavus had five for 10.

The Falcons, now 2-0-1 overall, host Bethel on Saturday in a non-conference matinee matchup. Action is set to get underway at 2:05 p.m. at Hunt Arena.

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2009-10 Schedule

Falcons Top Augsburg, 5-0; Flanagan Scores Twice

Nov. 6, 2009

The Falcons opened their home portion of the 2009-2010 season with a 5-0 win over Augsburg on Saturday afternoon at Hunt Arena.

For the second straight game, the Falcons did not allow a goal. It’s the first time in school history that the Falcons have started their season with back-to-back shutouts.

Katie Flanagan got things rolling for the Falcons early in the first as she tallied her first, of two, goals on the game at 4:51 to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. The Falcons wouldn’t look back. Jamie Briski followed suit and found the back of the net for the second time this season at 9:16 to give the Falcons a 2-0 lead midway through the first frame.

In the second, Abby Sunderman made it a 3-0 game with her first goal of the season at 8:34. Flanagan slipped one past the AC goalie for the second time on the afternoon, this time on a power play, at 14:18. In the third, Alyssa Black knocked in her first collegiate goal, adding to the Falcon lead and making it 5-0.

Falcon goalie Melissa Deardorff picked up the win and is now 1-0 on the season. She stopped all 17 Auggie shots on the afternoon. Auggies goalie, Toni Menth made 30 saves.

The Falcons, ranked No. 7 in the USCHO.com poll, outshot Augsburg 35-17. The Falcons committed four penalties for eight minutes while Augsburg had three for six. The Falcons went 1-for-3 on the advantage. Augsburg went 0-for-4.

Up next, the Falcons, 1-0 overall, host No. 3 ranked Gustavus Adolphus on Friday. Action is set to get underway at 7:05 p.m. at Hunt Arena.

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2009-10 Schedule

Falcons Open Season With
1-0 Win at St. Thomas

Nov. 6, 2009

Jamie Briski scored the lone goal of the game as the Falcons went on to defeat St.Thomas, 1-0, on the road in the team’s season opener on Friday night.

Briski found the back of the net for the Falcons, unassisted, at 10:38 of the second period. It was her first goal of the season.

The win comes as the Falcons were outshot nearly 3 to 1. St. Thomas slapped 41 shots compared to 16 by the Falcons.

Cassi Campbell stopped all 41 of the Tommie shots for her first win of the season. She is now 1-0. It was her eight career shutout.

The Falcons racked up nine penalties for 18 minutes; St. Thomas had seven for 14. Neither team could score while on the power play.

It was the third time in the team's 10-year history that the Falcons opened the season with a shutout win. Last year the Falcons blanked Augsburg, 7-0, and in 2000-01 season the Falcons opened with a 3-0 win against St. Mary's.

The 1-0-0 Falcons will now face Augsburg College tomorrow afternoon. Action is set to get underway at 2:05 p.m., at Hunt Arena.

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2009-10 Schedule

Falcons Open Season at St. Thomas on Friday;
Host Augsburg on Saturday

Nov. 4, 2009

By Adam Horejsi
UWRF Sports Information

With 17 returning letter winners, the Falcon women’s hockey team is ready to build on last year’s O'Brien Cup title and NCAA National Championship Finals appearance.

“With 17 returnees and five new recruits, we should have some additional depth this year. Two freshmen can play either forward or defense, and that gives me the flexibility to do some different things with several players. We are not a young team any more, and that is nice,” said Falcon Coach Joe Cranston.

Cranston is entering his 11th season at the helm of the Falcons and has accumulated a 150-96-20 record over that span. He looks to build on a record-breaking season from just a year ago when his Falcons finished 20-7-1 with a 15-2-1 mark in the NCHA and making it to the NCAA Finals. Last season he finished second for AHCA Coach of the Year award. Cranston was named the NCHA Coach of the Year in 2009, 2007 and 2003.

Jim Walsh, Mandy Stokes, and Jeremy Weiss all return as assistant coaches.

“We know we have a lot of tough games throughout the season, but we will be better prepared this year with an older team,” added Cranston. He also said his expectations are no different this year than any other year. “I believe in results, not goals. Winning the conference, or making to the NCAA tournament in March will be the result of work ethic, commitment and positive attitudes. My expectations are, for the women to show up every day ready to work and improve, the rest will take care of itself,” he explained.

The Falcons have been picked to win the 2010 NCHA championship in the annual league coaches poll. UWRF picked up six of a possible nine first place votes. UW-Superior finished second in the poll and had two first place votes.

Along with new recruits, the Falcons and the NCHA welcome two new teams to the conference, Adrian and Marian. Cranston displayed excitement and well wishes for the two squads. “I think Adrian will be very competitive this year. Last year those games did not mean anything, and that all changes now. I look forward to that series on the road in December,” he said. Last year the Falcons were swept at home by Adrian 3-2 and 5-3.

The Falcons welcome back a repertoire of talent from last season. Forwards Stefanie Schmitz (Sr., Farmington, Minn.) and Jessica Thompson (Jr., Shoreview, Minn.) and defender Amanda Ryder (So., Menomonie, Wis.) were all named to the first All-NCHA team. Forwards Jamie Briski (So., Chisholm, Minn.) and Abby Sunderman (Sr., LeSueur, Minn.), defender Baily Vikstrom (Jr., Burnsville, Minn.) and goalie Cassi Campbell (Jr., Anchorage, Alaska) all earned honorable mention. Thompson and Campbell both earned honorable mention to the 2008 team.

Thompson led the Falcons in points last year, scoring 31 on a team high 22 assists and nine goals. Schmitz was second with 30 points, which came off 14 goals and 16 assists. Sunderman led the Falcons with 16 goals and was third on the team with 27 points.

Between the pipes last season, Campbell went 13-3-2, recording three shutouts while saving 93-percent of shots against her. She had a 1.89 goals against average. All three of her shutouts came in NCHA play. “She is now a veteran goalie,” commented Cranston, “and she will be the backbone of our team. We have very good depth at that position as well.” Also back is sophomore Melissa Deardorff who finished 7-4-1 with a 1.55 goals against average and a .939 saves percentage. She also had three shutouts in her freshman season.

The Falcons open up their season with a strong first 10 games. They open up on the road at St. Thomas, a team they tied last year 3-3. A tough five game home span lingers after UST that includes games against Gustavus Adolphus, Superior and St. Olaf. A year ago, the Falcons defeated Gustavus, 2-1, to advance to the NCAA Championships in Middlebury, Vt.

This season, a new NCHA playoff format will be put into place. The top eight of nine teams will qualify for the conference playoffs where the high seeds will host the Quarterfinal series February 26-27. The highest remaining seed advancing will host the semifinal and final rounds March 5-6 with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Cranston said he is very happy about the new playoff format stating, “No team should have to play three games in three days.”

“Every game is big. With a veteran squad, I hope that we are more consistent from game to game, and from period to period. The players have to know that every game is huge,” said Cranston.

2009-10 Schedule

Falcons Picked For First in NCHA Coaches Poll

Oct. 28, 2009

The Falcon women's hockey team has been picked to win the 2010 NCHA championship.

In the league's annual coaches poll, the Falcons picked up six of nine first place votes.

The Falcons return 17 of 19 letter winners from the 2009 team that won both the NCHA regular season and playoff championships. UWRF finished the season with an overall record of 20-7-3 and were 15-2-1 in league play.

The Falcons are coached by Joe Cranston who starts his 11th season behind the bench. He has a 150-96-20 career record.

UWRF advanced to the NCAA National Championships and upset No. 1 ranked Gustavus Adolphus, 2-1, in a game played in St. Peter, Minn. The Falcons advanced to the NCAA semifinals at Middlebury, Vt., College where they lost, 3-0, to Elmira College. In the game for third place the Falcons lost a 3-2 overtime decision to Middlebury.

The Falcons open their 2009-10 season on Friday, Nov. 6 with a game at St. Thomas that starts at 7 p.m. UWRF opens its home season on Saturday, Nov. 7 with a game against Augsburg that starts at 2:05 p.m.

NCHA Site

2009-10 Falcon Schedule